Forest rangers in New York kept an injured hiker warm with a fire throughout Sunday night before he could be rescued by a helicopter the following morning.
Rangers received a report of a hiker who suffered a significant leg injury in Kaaterskill Wild Forest on Sunday, May 11 at 10:22 p.m.
A team of rescuers from Haines Falls Fire Department and Tannersville Rescue reached the 26-year-old from Sherburne at 1:24 a.m. on Monday, May 12. The hiker was reportedly nearly 1,000 feet off trail on steep and slippery terrain.
Forest rangers determined the safest way to rescue the hiker was with support from New York State Police Aviation at first light.
Two forest rangers stabilized the hiker’s injury and kept the patient warm with a fire overnight.
At 7:29 a.m., New York State Police pilots flew to the scene.
Rangers prepared the hiker on the ground and successfully hoisted the subject into the helicopter.
The pilots flew to a landing zone where crews transferred the subject to Med Flight for transport to Albany Medical Center. Resources were clear at 11:53 a.m.
