Minnesota rescue team airlifts injured hiker out of state park
A woman who injured her hip while hiking rugged terrain near Lake Superior was airlifted to safety by a helicopter rescue team.
The 62-year-old Stillwater woman fell and injured her hip in Split Rock Lighthouse State Park on Monday, authorities say.
The Lake County Rescue Squad that responded to a 911 call found the combination of the her injuries and the rocky landscape prevented them from moving her, KSTP reports.
So the Minnesota Aviation Rescue Team (MART) was summoned – and equipped with a Go Pro for the mission.
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The Pioneer Press reports the rescue team – consisting of a State Patrol helicopter and three St. Paul firefighters – is the only one in Minnesota and responds to 15 to 20 calls for help per year.
WCCO, which went along on a training run a few years ago, says Minnesota relied on other states for such rescues until MART was formed.
The Pioneer Press says the woman rescued Monday had a dislocated hip and was admitted to a Duluth hospital in stable condition.
Split Rock Lighthouse State Park is on the route of the Superior Hiking Trail. Information about conditions on the trail is available here.