Naval Air Station Whidbey Island’s Search and Rescue team conducted two rescues in the Alpine Wilderness Area on Monday, Aug. 21.

The first rescue mission, which occurred Monday morning, was for a 25-year-old woman who fell ill while hiking along Waptus Lake at an elevation of approximately 3,200 feet above sea level.

During the flight to her reported location, the crew determined that their visibility was compromised due to smoke from forest fires in the northern Cascade Mountains. After diverting south then flying east along state Highway 90 toward Cle Elum Lake, the crew reached the ailing hiker and her companions about an hour after departing the air station.

The SAR crew inserted two medical technicians about 100 yards from the hiking party’s location and then landed to conserve fuel. Upon reaching the patient, the rescue personnel assessed and prepared the ailing victim to receive fluids. Just after 11:50 a.m., the SAR crew began the extraction of the patient and the rescue team via hoist. The SAR team then flew her to Harborview Medical Center and turned her over to hospital personnel at 12:30 p.m.

Later that evening, the SAR crew received a report for a 65-year-old man who suffered a head injury in the Alpine Lakes area. Prior to leaving the base around 7:30 p.m., the SAR crew contacted a Kittitas County sheriff’s deputy who was managing the rescue efforts and learned that the smoke which was prevalent during the earlier mission had dissipated.

After finding a suitable location to minimize any rotor downwash during the rescue, the SAR team inserted two rescue personnel about 200 yards away from the injured hiker. The injured man and rescue team were hoisted aboard the SAR aircraft around 8:40 p.m. and flown directly to Harborview.

Naval Air Station Whidbey Island SAR has conducted 28 missions this calendar year, which includes one MEDEVAC, four searches and 23 rescues.