GRAND COUNTY, Utah, March 14, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — Grand County rescue crews assisted a hiker who was injured by a falling boulder Wednesday.
A Facebook news release from Grand County EMS said crews responded to the Fisher Towers area near Moab at approximately 11:40 a.m.
“Limited information was available due to very poor cell coverage in the area,” the post said. “Upon arrival Grand County EMS paramedics and a Grand County Sheriff’s deputy hiked in, to the patient.”
It was reported that a basketball-size rock came loose from a cliff and landed on the hiker, the news release said. It’s unknown exactly how far the rock fell.
The hiker sustained life-threatening injuries, the news release said. A critical care helicopter was requested and denied due to the weather.
“Grand County SAR preformed a safe and swift evacuation of the patient over three-and-a-half hours,” the news release said. A ground ambulance was paged and the patient was transported by ground to St. Mary’s Medical Center in Grand Junction in critical condition.
“During this operation several other rockfalls were observed by the rescuers,” the news release said. “Please be very cautious if you plan to hike during the recent rainstorms.”
