New Mexico National Guard rescues man trampled by horse in Gila Wilderness
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – New Mexico National Guard members rescued a man who was trampled by a horse in an extremely remote portion of the Gila Wilderness in southwest New Mexico.
The four-person crew of the HH-60M Blackhawk helicopter arrived on the scene at around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday and hoisted the man from the ground into the helicopter which hovered above. The flight medic noted the man was suffering from possible broken ribs, an injured ankle, and potential internal injuries, according to the National Guard.
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The man was taken to Albuquerque where he was transferred to a ground ambulance and then taken to the hospital. "I'm relieved we were able to airlift the individual from such a remote area, provide initial medical aid and transport them for further medical care," Maj. Gen. Miguel Aguilar, the NMNG Adjutant General, stated in a news release. "I'm proud of our team for handing the rescue with such expertise, once again highlighting what we do in the Guard to serve New Mexico and our communities. That's our purpose."
The helicopter crew was comprised of Pilot in Command Capt. Chris Otero, Pilot Chief Warrant Officer 3 Carlton Charles, Crew Chief Staff Sgt. Ben Vasquez and Flight Medic Staff Sgt. Adam Gross.
This rescue marked the first use of the New Mexico National Guard's brand new helicopter , which is specifically designed for Medical Evacuation, or MEDEVAC use.
