Snohomish County, WA – A backpacker experiencing a medical emergency in the backcountry was rescued today after a coordinated effort involving ground teams and a helicopter hoist operation.
According to Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue, a hasty team of two EMTs responded early in the morning to assess and treat the patient in a remote area. After evaluating the situation, responders determined the individual could not safely hike out due to their condition.
A helicopter evacuation was requested, and SnoHawk 10 responded to hoist the patient from the scene and transport them to Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett for further care.
At the same time, additional ground teams began hiking into the area with extra medical and rescue equipment in case weather or other conditions prevented the helicopter from completing the mission.
Officials say the rescue was initiated using the Emergency SOS feature on a smartphone, allowing the patient and their partner to communicate via satellite messaging despite having no cell service. This enabled coordination between Snohomish County 911, the Sheriff’s Office, and rescue teams before crews arrived on scene.
Authorities emphasize that the incident highlights the importance of preparation, communication, and having multiple rescue plans in place when traveling in remote areas.
No additional details about the patient’s condition have been released.
