Multi-agency response to save injured hiker
An injured male hiker in his 30s from Missouri was saved after a lengthy overnight multi-agency rescue to find the man and get him to the hospital on July 1, 2023.
Pennington County 911 received a call from the injured hiker on, July 1, 2023 at approximately 20:47 hr.
He was near the Castle Peak Campground, and Castle Peak Road between Hill City and Rochford unincorporated Pennington County.
He had fallen in steep terrain, suffering a compound leg fracture.
The cell phone reception was poor and we were not able to get location coordinates from the 911 call.
Personnel from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rochford, Johnson Siding, Hill City, and Rapid Valley Volunteer Fire Departments, US Forest Service and Search and Rescue Teams from Pennington, Custer and Lawrence Counties searched the area.
They worked through the night to locate the hiker. Working in the dark, in steep, rocky, nearly inaccessible terrain and using technical rescues techniques they were able to get him to the waiting Black Hills Life flight helicopter about 04:00 on July 2nd, 2023. He was then flown to Monument Hospital in Rapid City, SD.
Pennington County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Lieutenant Dave Switzer asks hikers and climbers to take safety precautions to prevent tragedy. “If you’re hiking or climbing, stay on designated trails. Hike with a friend. If you hike alone, make sure you have an emergency communication system other than a cell phone, like an emergency beacon.” Switzer continues, “This is another example of our strong partnerships between local and federal agencies and thankfully we saved a life.”
Agencies responding included Pennington County 911, Custer County Communications, Lawrence County 911, Hill City Ambulance Service, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Pennington County Search and Rescue, Pennington County Emergency Management, Custer County Search and Rescue, Lawrence County Search and Rescue, Black Hill Life Flight, Rochford Volunteer Fire Department, Hill City Volunteer Fire Department, Johnson Siding Volunteer Fire Department, Rapid Valley Volunteer Fire Department and the United States Forest Service.