ST. GEORGE — First responders issued a critical warning after two back-to-back rescue operations in Zion National Park on Sunday afternoon.
Sgt. Darrell Cashin with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said Zion National Park’s search and rescue team first responded to an emergency call at The Narrows.
Around 4:22 p.m., another report surfaced of an injured hiker at the left fork of The Subway. Dispatch was alerted by a 911 text message. However, accurate coordinates couldn’t be obtained from the message; instead, it pinged off a tower in Apple Valley, indicating it was approximately 14 miles northeast of that location.
“That could have put it anywhere from Zion, Springdale, Rockville, Kolob Terrace, any of that area,” Cashin said. “How do you cover all of that country trying to look for somebody that needs help?”
Zion National Park dispatch contacted Washington County’s dispatch, noting similarities in the wording of a text they both received. After confirming, they realized these were two distinct incidents. Since the park was occupied with another call, Cashin volunteered to handle the second one, directing Search and Rescue teams accordingly.
Upon arrival, Star 8 informed the crews that they had completed their prior assignment and offered assistance, which was gladly accepted, Cashing said. Star 8 proceeded to the GPS coordinates, located the injured patient with an ankle injury and successfully extracted him. The patient, accompanied by his brother, was instructed by medical personnel to remain in place until further assistance could return for him.
The injured hiker was located 1.7 miles from the trailhead at the left fork of The Subway, situated across a plateau characterized by sharp drops and steep edges.
“You almost need to pull your ropes team out and set up raises to get them up over things to get them out,” Cashin said. “So it’s one that could be really complicated and technical, but lucky, my friends at Star 8 offered their help.”
In fact, Star 8 airlifted the patient and landed at the trailhead parking lot. Washington County Sheriff’s Office personnel medically assessed the patient, providing a splint, although the patient declined further medical transport. Star 8 then returned to retrieve the remaining hiker.
“He decided to just start hiking and wasn’t there,” Cashin said about the remaining hiker.
The Search and Rescue team set out to locate him and found him emerging from the canyon onto the plateau. They escorted him out safely, without any injuries.
Cashin emphasized that during rescue operations, emergency responders never leave a hiker unattended. The entire rescue operation lasted approximately three hours, with the additional time spent due to the remaining hiker taking off, extending the rescue call by about an hour.
“When you call for help and we say ‘Please stay put,’ please stay put,” Cashin said. “Unless you are in danger where you’re at, like a flood. If you start moving, it really complicates things and takes us a lot longer to find you and get to you.”
Regarding the incident at The Narrows, Cashin said he wasn’t fully briefed but knew a person was airlifted by Star 8. Zion National Park representatives did not respond to inquiries from St. George News.
When it comes to hiking in desert heat, Cashin stressed the critical importance of hydration, highlighting the need to start hydrating the day before engaging in outdoor activities. He cautioned that waiting until reaching the trailhead to begin drinking water puts individuals at a disadvantage, as their bodies are already struggling to catch up. He advises against hiking during daylight hours altogether.
“When we get calls in the middle of the summer and it’s a heat-related issue, they are absolutely life-threatening,” he said. “We have had in the past a lot of people pass away from them. Maybe not right away, but over days.”
Cashin explained that dehydration can cause the kidneys to start shutting down, leading to a potentially deadly chemical imbalance in the body. Proper hydration is crucial to maintaining health and safety during outdoor activities in hot climates.
This report is based on statements from court records, police or other responders and may not contain the full scope of findings.
Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, all rights reserved.