Pair transported to Payson Regional Medical Center suffering from hypothermia
Flagstaff AZ- On Wednesday, May 18 at about 9 p.m. Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputies and Search and Rescue volunteers were mobilized to search for two lost hikers, a 25 year old female and a 27 year old male, both from the Phoenix area. Information gathered by a Coconino County Sheriff’s Sergeant who serves as the Search and Rescue coordinator indicated that the two subjects voluntarily walked away from their camp for what was intended to be a short day hike at about 1 p.m. Wednesday and did not return to camp as expected. Information further indicated that a total of four individuals were camping in a tent in the area of 29 Mile Butte located near the junction of Highway 260 and Highway 87 north of Strawberry.
Severe winter weather conditions that included high winds, low temperatures, rain and hail caused searchers to be concerned for the welfare of the two missing hikers and gave them a sense of urgency. The search coordinator deployed 10 ground searchers, one U.S.Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer who was familiar with the area; two air scenting K-9s, and a Guardian Air Transport Helicopter. Initially the coordinator attempted to utilize the Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue Helicopter, but the ship assigned to Northern Arizona was not available due to a lack of available staff. The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office is very grateful for the eager assistance of Guardian Air Transport.
Ground searchers located the two missing hikers on Thursday morning at about 3:00 a.m. approximately four miles east of their campsite. Rescuers described the victims as being very cold, hungry and disoriented. The medical staff aboard the Guardian Air Transport Helicopter evaluated the two victims and determined they were suffering from symptoms of hypothermia. The victims were transported by ground ambulance to Payson Regional Medical Center.
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