Rescue helicopter flies apparent heart attack victim off Phoenix hiking trail
Jul 18, 2022, 9:01 AM | Updated: 10:56 am
PHOENIX – Rescue crews used a helicopter to carry an apparent heart attack victim off a Phoenix hiking trail on Monday morning, authorities said.
The man called 911 around 6:45 a.m. and said he thought he was having a heart attack after traveling about half a mile on the Piestewa Nature Trail, the Phoenix Fire Department said in a press release.
The first paramedics on the scene ran up the trail carrying a heart compression device. They began treatment after finding the man unresponsive, with no pulse.
Technical rescue teams arrived and coordinated with a Phoenix Police Firebird helicopter to fly the man off the trail.
The patient was then taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital. He was in critical condition, a fire department spokesman said.
No other details were made available.
The Nature Trail is one of multiple hiking paths at the Piestewa Peak Trailhead near Lincoln Drive and 24th Street. Unlike the challenging Summit Trail, the Nature Trail is a relatively flat path.
The 1.4-mile loop has an elevation change of 180 feet and is considered a moderate hike, according to the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department.
