ST. GEORGE — Star 7 saved the day for search and rescue as the helicopter and crew were able to locate and transport a stranded hiker back to safety in Water Canyon, near Hildale.
Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Paul said that an approximately 50-year-old man became stranded while hiking with low battery power for his cell phone near Water Canyon.
The man realized the sunset, on Friday, was arriving and he did not have apparel proper for nighttime. With a dying cell battery, he needed help.
Washington County Search and Rescue received the emergency call at 6:33 p.m. through a relay of reporting parties.
Paul said the hiker started at Water Canyon but ended up traveling north, almost to Eagle Crags by the South Creek Canaan Mountain Wilderness.
“With where he was and it would take us about seven to eight hours on foot to get him out, I called Star 7,” Paul said.
Paul said the average time for a rescue in the area where the hiker was lost is four to five hours.
The Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter was dispatched, yet Paul said Star 7 can’t do hoists at night so they had to work fast.
The flight crew located the hiker, landed nearby and flew him back to Maxwell Park where a landing zone was set and a medical team and search and rescue crew were waiting.
The Colorado City Medical Center offered to take him in for evaluation, but the hiker refused was given a ride by Paul to Hurricane.
Paul issued a warning about being prepared properly. He said although the hiker was prepared more than most hikers and had plenty of water, he lacked a back-up battery and a map. He was also not dressed for proper hiking at after dark as the nighttime temperatures dropped below 40 degrees.
“He was prepared for the hike, but not prepared to stay the night,” Paul said.
Paul also suggested that new hikers learn orienteering, how to use a compass and map, including how to read a map, in case cell phones or GPS devices die. The incident was cleared by 8 p.m.
This report is based on preliminary statements from law enforcement officials and may not contain the full scope of findings.
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