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TRSAR Missions - Salome
Salome Canyon Rescue
5/18/2008
Call
came to Search and Rescue late in the afternoon to go to Salome
Canyon Trailhead to assist Tonto Basin Firefighter personnel in
a carry out of an injured hiker.
It was
a little over 2 miles to the bottom of Salome canyon where the
canyon walls were vertical to the edge of Salome Creek. The
subject had been climbing some rock walls above one of the pools
of water upstream from the mouth of Salome Canyon. Rather than
climb down to the water the subject decided to jump into a pool
of water.
There
was a submerged rock just below the surface of the water that
resulted in subject's compound fracture of his Tib / Fib. DPS
Ranger helicopter was called to assist in the rescue. Daylight
was leaving fast and there was an urgency to get the subject to
the mouth of the canyon to enable DPS Ranger to longline the
subject to command for transfer to a Medivac helicopter.
SAR was
advised the water was very cold and there were several deep
pools to be traversed with the subject and only strong swimmers
should go upstream. Based
on this information, responding TRSAR members decided to remove
unnecessary gear and clothing before heading in to the subject. Search
and Rescue aided Firefighter medical personnel in bringing
subject in a flotation litter down several pools of water to
the mouth of the canyon.
Subject was lifted by DPS Ranger to Command just as it was
getting dark. This was a good, successful effort by all
personnel involved.
Photos by Dave Pirtle
Click on thumbnails for
larger version
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