On Friday June 2, 2017 at approximately 7:30 a.m., the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a Spanish speaking male who reported he was injured and needed help. From the call GPS Coordinates were obtained and it showed the call coming from a remote area near the top of the Whetstone Mountains.
Cochise County Search and Rescue (SAR) was notified and responded to the area of milepost 302 Hwy 90 which was closest to the remote location. Rescuers determined that due to the remote and rugged area a helicopter rescue would need to be done. Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue was contacted and responded to the area.
A Customs and Border Patrol helicopter also responded, located the subject and notified Cochise County Sheriff’s Office SAR and AZDPS Air Rescue of the subject’s exact location.
A Cochise County Sheriff’s Office deputy/paramedic, Tom Fair, and Cochise County Sheriff’s Office SAR volunteer/EMT , Dominic Epps, were flown in and rappelled out of the AZDPS helicopter and to the subject.
The male subject was walking with a group of illegal immigrants when a rock rolled off the mountain and onto his left lower leg sometime Thursday.
Three of the other undocumented immigrants removed the rock and continued north, abandoning the male.
Rescuers determined the subject had a possible broken lower leg and knee and was suffering from severe dehydration.
The subject was packaged then flown out to Hwy 90 where his care was turned over to Health Care Innovation Ambulance and was taken to Canyon Vista Medical Center in Sierra Vista.