An injured logger was airlifted from a remote area of Mount Hood National Forest after difficult terrain prevented ground crews from safely transporting him, authorities said.
Officials said the rescue took place Thursday about 60 miles southeast of Portland, Oregon.
Logger injured after tree falls at work site
According to the Estacada Fire District, the worker was struck and pinned by a falling tree while logging in the forest.
Initial reports indicated the man suffered a broken leg and possibly other injuries.
Other workers at the scene were able to cut the tree away and free his trapped leg before emergency crews arrived.
Rescue teams faced difficult terrain
Firefighters eventually reached the injured worker after navigating through steep slopes and fallen trees, which made access to the area challenging.
Paramedics were able to stabilize the patient, but an arriving air ambulance could not safely reach him because it lacked hoist capabilities and the forest canopy was too dense.
National Guard helicopter completes hoist rescue
Because a ground evacuation would have been dangerous and slow, the Oregon Army National Guard deployed an HH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to assist.
Rescuers placed the injured logger in a basket and lifted him roughly 200 feet into the air before bringing him aboard the helicopter.
The man was then transported to a nearby hospital, where officials said he was in stable condition.
Former flight medic helps coordinate rescue
Tony Hadeed, a paramedic with the Estacada Fire District, assisted with the rescue operation. Hadeed previously served as a flight medic with the same National Guard unit that responded to the emergency.
Officials said his experience helped coordinate the rescue effort and prepare the patient for the aerial extraction.
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