Whidbey SAR rescues hiker after 1,200-foot fall

The team saved a man who fell more than 1,200 feet down a ravine in the Olympic National Forest.

December 19, 2023 1:30 am
A photo taken through night vision device shows the presumed fall path of a hiker from near the top of Mount Ellinor, on Dec. 16. (Courtesy of NAS Whidbey Island SAR)
A photo taken through night vision device shows the presumed fall path of a hiker from near the top of Mount Ellinor, on Dec. 16. (Courtesy of NAS Whidbey Island SAR)

A Search and Rescue team from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island rescued a hiker who had fallen more than 1,200 feet down a ravine on Mount Ellinor in the Olympic National Forest on Dec. 16, the base reported in a press release.

The 30-year-old male hiker had fallen down the ravine near the top of the mountain and his hiking partner was unable to find or contact him. Shortly after 6:20 p.m., the SAR crew members launched from NAS Whidbey Island’s Ault Field and they made contact with the Mason County Search and Rescue Incident Commander once on scene.

After finding no trace of the hiker near the top of the mountain, the SAR crew began a search at the bottom of a large avalanche runout about 1,000 feet down slope from the top of the mountain. During that search, crew members saw a flashing light near a boulder field slightly below the avalanche runout and more than 1,200 feet below where he initially fell.

The SAR crew lowered a crew member to the hiker’s location and, due to concern about the risk of further avalanches or rock falls, quickly hoisted the patient back aboard the helicopter.

The patient was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle by 7:45 p.m. with a broken arm, symptoms of hypothermia and significant abrasions.

NAS Whidbey SAR has conducted 43 missions this calendar year, which includes 4 MEDEVACs, 6 searches and 33 rescues.

The Navy SAR unit operates three MH-60S helicopters from NAS Whidbey Island as search and rescue/medical evacuation platforms for the EA-18G aircraft as well as other squadrons and personnel assigned to the installation. Pursuant to the National SAR Plan of the United States, the unit may also be used for civil SAR/MEDEVAC needs to the fullest extent practicable on a non-interference basis with primary military duties according to applicable national directives, plans, guidelines and agreements.