Search & Rescue Call Out / Mountain Rescue
El Paso County Sheriff's Office
3850 Justice Dr. El Paso, Texas 79938
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Deputy Jesse Tovar / Public Information Officer
(915) 538-2223
Pager: (915) 533-0733 (#5370)
Release Date & Time: Friday, May 23, 2008 10:30 PM
WHO: El Paso County Sheriff's Office (Lower Valley Patrol / Search & Rescue Team)
WHAT: Mountain Rescue / Search & Rescue call-out
WHERE: 6900 Hueco Tanks Rd. Hueco Tanks State Historic Park
WHEN: Friday, May 23, 2008 at 7:10 PM
WHY: Mountain Rescue
On Friday evening 05-23-08 at 7:10 PM, Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to Hueco Tanks State Historic Park in reference to an injured party. Early reports indicate a 38 year-old male was rock climbing (rock hopping) when during one of his jumps, he landed wrong, hyper-extended his knee and almost fell off the mountain. He apparently was hanging from a cliff with a 70 ft. drop holding on to the mountain by his own strength until emergency services arrived. The Montana Vista Fire Dept. along with Sheriff Deputies arrived to the scene & immediately began climbing the mountain until they reached the Victim roping & securing him. Due to the steep cliffs, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue Team was summoned to the scene. The elevation of where the rescue took place was about 300 feet high.
A joint effort by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue Team, Montana Vista volunteer Fire Dept. & Park Rangers worked together in the successful rescue of the Victim. He was later identified as 38 year-old Ed Gurrola.
A couple of mountain climbing safety tips according to Search & Rescue Sgt. Deputy Dan Watling:
- Always climb using proper equipment
- Climb during daytime hours
- Take the necessary survival items such as water, food, a cell phone
"We train for situations such as this & it is important to remind the public that the services provided by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue Team are free of charge" -said Sgt. Deputy Dan Watling