Around 9:30 a.m. on March 2, crews from Zion Search and Rescue and Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue were called to respond to an emergency in Zion National Park, about a mile and a half upstream along the Narrows. A female patient had an unspecified medical episode that rendered her unable to walk back out and had fallen into the water. The individual was receiving care from other hikers with healthcare experience but required emergency transportation to get out of the canyon.
Photos via Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue.
Utah Department of Public Safety’s Star 9 helicopter was dispatched to airlift the patient, after which she was transported directly to the hospital for treatment.
In a statement to the St. George News, Zion’s public affairs correspondent Matthew Fink said, “This is a good reminder that traveling into the Virgin River Narrows, even on short trips, can be challenging and risky and requires careful planning before you begin. Your safety is your responsibility and is dependent on your own good judgement, adequate preparations and constant observation. Speak with park rangers at park visitor centers or check the park’s website for updated information on conditions, weather forecasts and flash flood potential ratings … Zion National Park would like to thank Hurricane Valley Fire and Rescue as well as the Utah Department of Public Safety for their assistance with yesterday’s rescue.”
