Weather involved in California Mountain Biker Injury in Utah

Rescue team hijacks helicopter for own use

The St George Spectrum, May 7, 2005.

Washington County Search and Rescue did get called out Friday to rescue a mountain biker who had broken a leg, Cox said. The accident occurred at Little Creek Mountain, southwest of Apple Valley.

Cox did not know if the accident was weather-related, but he thinks the wet weather likely made riding on the slick rock more difficult.

Stricken mountain biker waiting to be rescued. Photo by Graham Martin

“It was really cold out there – sleet and hail and rain,” Cox said. “We had to hike back in … and carry him out.”

Cox said the rescue team had to load its equipment onto four-wheelers to ride farther in to the victim. Eventually, the terrain became so rough they had to hike the rest of the way.

As they were hiking back out with the victim, Cox said they saw a medical helicopter flying over. Though it was not responding to the same incident, the team was able to have the helicopter land and fly the victim to the hospital.

The Colorado City Fire Department assisted in the rescue, which took about four hours.