Hiker airlifted, hospitalized with heat exhaustion in Washington County rescue

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Utah ( ABC4 ) — Hurricane Valley Fire & Rescue crews conducted a rescue of a man who fell ill with heat exhaustion while hiking in Washington County Thursday afternoon.

At around 12:35 p.m. on July 18, rescue crews responded to the area of Peter’s Leap — a section of the first road connecting Cedar City and St. George, which crosses a ravine — located just north of Pintura.

Rescue personnel learned that an elderly man was out hiking and had become “unable to continue due to the heat,” according to a release from Hurricane Valley Fire & Rescue.

“Crews hiked approximately a quarter of a mile from the nearest road to reach the patient and initiated patient care.”

Authorities said that due to the man’s remote location, a Dept. of Public Safety helicopter was called to the scene and the man was hoisted out. He was then taken via ambulance to the hospital for heat exhaustion.

“This incident demonstrated excellent inter-agency collaboration and response,” the release states.

Washington County Search and Rescue, LifeFlight, and Utah DPS all responded to this incident.

No further information is available at this time.

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