Whidbey SAR rescues hiker in the Cascades

(NAS WHIDBEY ISLAND)- A Search and Rescue (SAR) team from Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island rescued a 40-year-old hiker the Cascade Mountains on Sept. 16, 2024.

The SAR unit received early morning notification of a hiker who had lost consciousness after at 30’ at Whistler Creek and had a possible spinal injury. Bellingham Mountain Rescue team was on scene with the injured man and needed a hoist capable aircraft to due to the nature of the terrain, according to a news release from NAS Whidbey Island.

The SAR crew launched from Ault Field at 4 a.m. and was on scene by 4:30. After establishing communications with the mountain rescue team the crew made an overall assessment of the area and rappelled two crewmembers near the injured man’s location for assessment and preparation for removal.

After approximately 15 to 20 minutes the crew had prepped the patient for extraction by dual man litter and flew the man to St. Joesph’s Hospital in Bellingham.

Naval Air Station Whidbey Island SAR has conducted 30 missions this calendar year, which includes (4) MEDEVACs, (5) searches and (21) rescues.