National Guard rescues two hikers in Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Both hikers were taken to UT Medical Center for treatment.
LOUISVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT)—Flight crews from the Tennessee Army National Guard rescued two hikers suffering from medical emergencies in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Friday.
Shortly after 2 p.m., the Tennessee National Guard and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency were notified of a hiker in a remote area of the park, near Mount LeConte Lodge, suffering from respiratory distress in the park and in need of medical assistance and rapid transport to the hospital.
Guardsmen then readied a Blackhawk helicopter and flew to Mount LeConte Lodge, where the crew located the hiker and park rangers who were rendering first aid.
The hiker was then hoisted into the helicopter and taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville for treatment.
Then, around 7:30 p.m. Friday, the Tennessee National Guard received another call of a hiker in possible cardiac distress near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park along the Alum Cave Trails.
Crews found the hiker and park rangers rendering first aid around 8:45 p.m. The hiker was then hoisted into the helicopter, flown to UT Medical Center, and rushed to the emergency room for treatment.
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