Search & Rescue Team rescue 17 year-old after falling at Hueco Tanks
El Paso County Sheriff's Office
3850 Justice Dr. El Paso, Texas 79938
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Deputy Jesse Tovar / Public Information Officer
Direct: (915) 538-2223
Pager: (915) 533-0733 (#5370)
Release Date & Time: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 9:30 pm
WHO: El Paso County Sheriff's Office (Lower Valley Patrol / Search & Rescue Team)
WHAT: Girl 17, rescued by Search & Rescue Team after falling at Hueco Tanks
WHERE: 6900 Hueco Tanks Rd. - Hueco Tanks State Park
WHEN: Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 11: 17 AM
WHY: Injured climber rescued
INFORMATION:
Late Wednesday morning 07-30-08 at about 11:17am, Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to Hueco Tanks State Park in reference to an injured climber. Sheriff deputies arrived within minutes along with Park Rangers, Life Ambulance Medics & the Montana Vista volunteer Fire Dept.
Initial information received by dispatch operators, a 17 year-old female was hiking up in the mountain along with several members of her family when she suddenly lost her footing & fell about 15 feet down into a crevice.
The initial responding Deputy also a member of the Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue Team climbed up the mountain & into the crevice. The Deputy made a quick assessment & requested the Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue Team be activated for the rescue.
Life Ambulance Medics along with members of the Montana Vista Fire Dept. immobilized the 17 year-old Victim while the Search & Rescue Team assembled. SAR made their way up the mountain & reached the Victim. After 3 hours carefully setting up a secure zip line. The Victim was lowered down the steep cliffs using the zip line to awaiting SAR members at ground level.
The Victim was identified as 17-year-old Lauren Isaacson of West El Paso, TX. She suffered small abrasions to her arms & was complaining of back pain.
A joint effort by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue Team, Montana Vista volunteer Fire Dept., Life Ambulance Medics, Park Rangers, & Southwest Air Ambulance Medics worked together in the successful rescue of the Victim.
The Victim was air-lifted to Thomason hospital by Southwest Air Ambulance for further evaluation.
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
(PHOTOS: Courtesy El Paso County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue)
End of News Release
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in March of 2001 was the first Sheriff’s Office in the State of Texas to be Internationally Accredited from CALEA and is now the recipient of the First CALEA Tri-Arc award in Texas (4th in the Nation) to have accreditations in: Law Enforcement, Communications, Training Academy.