PORT ANGELES — The Coast Guard medevaced a 17-year-old hiker from Olympic National Park after he fell and sustained knee and head injuries that required immediate medical attention.
The lone hiker was rescued from an area about 4 miles north of La Push shortly after 3:30 p.m. Monday.
Two Good Samaritan hikers found a teenage male alone and injured, watchstanders at the 13th Coast Guard District in Seattle were told at about 2:10 p.m. in a call relayed from the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center.
It was reported that one hiker stayed with the injured man while the other sought help, ultimately finding a third hiker who used a personal locator beacon to send out a distress signal.
Park personnel deployed a ground rescue team and Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound launched an Air Station Port Angeles MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter crew.
The Coast Guard helicopter hoisted the hiker and transported him to awaiting emergency medical services personnel at Air Station Port Angeles.
The Coast Guard warned hikers that a registered Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon or Personal Locator Beacon are more reliable means of communication in case of emergency than cell phones in remote areas.
