Night evacuation near Nederlanda: helicopter incident complicates tourist rescue

In the mountains west of the town of Nederland, an operation to rescue a 38-year-old man who had gone hiking alone and was injured in the Diamond Lake area lasted for more than eight hours. The accident was reported to Boulder County Sheriff's Office in the afternoon. The tourist fell and suffered injuries to his limbs, including suspected leg fractures, but he managed to contact dispatchers and transmit his coordinates.

Due to the steep and technically difficult terrain, ground units Rocky Mountain Rescue Group and local firefighters decided that the safest option would be an air evacuation. Colorado National Guard aircraft were involved in the operation, however, during the first attempt to reach the victim, one of the helicopters had an incident and made a precautionary landing near the exit to the Fourth of July Trailhead route in Buckingham Park.

Despite the technical delay, rescuers continued the mission with the involvement of an additional helicopter Lakota. At 00:21, the injured tourist was lifted aboard using a winch, transported to a temporary site near a local school and handed over to medics for hospitalization in the city Boulder.