Alaska Air Guardsmen rescue hiker in Eagle River Valley

Published May 15, 2017
By SSgt Edward Eagerton

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Airmen with the Alaska Air National Guard’s 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons rescued a distressed individual in the Eagle River Valley, May 14.

According to the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, three good Samaritans found the hypothermic hiker and contacted the Alaska State Troopers. AST then contacted the RCC for assistance due to the terrain in the area where the individual was located.

The 176th Wing accepted the mission and launched an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter from the 210th Rescue Squadron with a Guardian Angel team from the 212th Rescue Squadron out of JBER.

Guardian Angel teams are highly trained medical personnel made up of a pararescueman and a combat rescue officer who both specialize in conducting high-risk rescue missions.

The good Samaritans stayed with the distressed individual and waited for the helicopter to arrive, according to the RCC. They were wearing orange vests and used a flashlight to signal the helicopter as it approached the area.

Upon locating the group, the Guardian Angel team and helicopter crew hoisted the individual into the helicopter and then flew to Providence Hospital where the hiker was released to medical personnel there.

For this mission, the 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons were awarded with one save.