A 24-year-old Arkansas man hiking in the Weminuche Wilderness was flown by helicopter to Mercy Regional Medical Center on Tuesday after he initiated an electronic distress call for a medical condition that needed immediate attention.
The man was hiking with a partner near Vestal Peak, and the distress signal from a Garmin InReach GPS unit was received about 6 a.m., according to a news release issued by San Juan County.
Two men had been hiking in the Weminuche Wilderness for two days at the time the distress call was initiated, according to the release.
A Flight For Life helicopter flew the man to Mercy around 10:30 a.m., DeAnne Gallegos, county spokeswoman, said.
Gallegos did not have details about the man’s medical condition.
She also did not have the man’s name or his hometown.
Besides the Flight For Life crew, other agencies responding included: San Juan County Search and Rescue, Silverton-San Juan County Ambulance, Silverton Medical Rescue and Montrose Helitack.
parmijo@durangoherald.com
