Video: Rescue 3 Flight Crew Hoists Injured Off-Road Motorcycle Rider from Extremely Rugged Terrain near Cusick, WA
A Spokane Regional Air Support Unit (SRASU) Flight Crew responded to the area of the Batey-Bould ORV Park, northwest of Cusick, WA. Pend Oreille County Fire requested Rescue 3’s assistance with the rescue of an adult male rider who wrecked near Tacoma Peak.
On September 21, 2019, at approximately 5:30 p.m., Spokane Regional Air Support Unit Rescue 3 Flight Crews received a request to assist the rescue of a male, who had wrecked on an off-road vehicle, in the rugged terrain of the Batey-Bould ORV Park.
The male was described as having leg and back injuries. With his large stature, combined with the rough terrain and nightfall rapidly approaching, Rescue 3’s rescue hoist capabilities were needed to remove him from the mountainside safely.
At approximately 6:30 p.m., Rescue 3’s Flight Crew, consisting of Volunteer Pilots Dave Valenti and Jack Scanlon, Crew Chief Spokane County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chris Bylow and Helicopter Rescue Medics (HRM) Spokane Fire Department Fireman/Paramedics Cody Weidauer and Bob Nixon, launched.
Just before 7:00 p.m., Rescue 3 arrived in the area and located the rescue crews below. HRM Weidauer was lowered to the ground from the Bell UH-1H Super Huey. The injured male was placed in an AVR (Air Rescue Vest) suit and hoisted up to the awaiting Rescue 3 crew. HRM Weidauer maintained a tag line from the ground to provide stability during the hoist of the injured male.
A few minutes later, HRM Weidauer secured himself on the hoist cable and was hoisted back into Rescue 3.
The patient was flown to a nearby landing area and transferred into the care of Pend Oreille Fire and AMR personnel for continued care.
