On Saturday October 3, 2015 at approximately 10:00 am, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a boy scout troop hiking the Crest Trail from Montezuma to Patagonia with 13 scouts and 4 scout leaders, when one of the scout leaders began experiencing signs of a heart attack.
Sheriff’s Deputies responded along with Search and Rescue personnel, DPS Ranger Helicopter, Park Service Rangers, US Border Patrol ground and air assets, Palominas Fire Department, and Fry Fire Department Tactical Team and Medics.
Due to high winds in the area the helicopters from Customs and DPS were not able to initially get to the area needed to rescue the 63 year old scout leader and contact was made with the US Air Force helicopter for additional assistance.
After several attempts to get the man to a location where he could be airlifted, the DPS Ranger was able to remove non-essential equipment and land at a higher location than the SAR crew and the hiker. DPS lifted the man, who appeared to be suffering from heart attack symptoms, to the SV Airport where the US Air Force helicopter then airlifted him to a Tucson hospital for treatment.