|
|
|
DEM #98-0193 February 8, 1998 |
The Unit was contacted on the 8th of Feb. for four members trained as crew chiefs for the county's SAR helicopter "Rainier One". The operation was a helo search in Cowlitz County for a 61-year-old male who was last seen taking a walk from his rural farmhouse. He was a brain surgery patient that had gone for a walk in street type clothes only. There were some reports of witnesses sightings a mile from his farmhouse. The helicopter searched a number of drainages less than a mile from the Columbia River and though they spooked a lot of elk, unfortunately found no sign of him. There were ground searchers, dog teams, volunteers, Coast Guard, and our helicopter. The conditions were miserable, heavy rain and high winds with a low cloud ceiling. Flying open doors just above the trees with 35mph winds blowing rain into the copter while bouncing around in the wind made for an interesting flight. The pilots, Hoffman and Dawson did a great job. Jim Andrues, Jeff Sharp, Rob Lutz, and John Miner were the members who responded.
Tacoma Mountain Rescue |
 |