In a dramatic rescue operation, a 66-year-old hiker from Plymouth, New Hampshire, was airlifted by a Black Hawk helicopter after sustaining a leg injury on the Bondcliff Trail in the White Mountains. The incident occurred on Thursday morning when Scott Bailey, who had spent the previous night at the Guyot Shelter, slipped and fell while descending a steep section of the trail.

Emergency Response and Rescue

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department conservation officers were alerted around 11:53 a.m. after Bailey called 911, reporting his inability to continue hiking due to the injury. Using the coordinates provided by the emergency call, officers determined that Bailey was approximately 7-8 miles from the trailhead, in a remote location that necessitated aerial assistance.

The New Hampshire Army National Guard was contacted to facilitate the extraction. A helicopter departed from Concord at around 1 p.m., locating Bailey by 1:30 p.m. Shortly thereafter, a Black Hawk helicopter arrived at the scene. Two crew members were lowered to Bailey’s location, and by 2:50 p.m., he was safely hoisted into the helicopter.

Medical Evaluation

Bailey was transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, where he received medical evaluation and treatment for his injury. The swift response and successful rescue underscore the importance of preparedness and the capability of local emergency services in handling such incidents in challenging terrains.

Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.