Rescue team collabs with railroad to save rafter in remote Colorado

A scary late-season rafting rescue took place in Colorado in recent days after a rafter on the Colorado River's Gore Canyon experienced a medical emergency while on the river.

According to Grand County Search and Rescue, the rafter suffered a seizure. Rescue teams coordinated to initiate a "swift and effective" rescue operation that involved collaboration with the Union Pacific Railroad.

Multiple personnel were transported into the canyon via rail on a "high-rail" vehicle, with others traveling to the location by ATV and on-foot. The rafter experiencing the medical emergency was assisted to the railway tracks by other rafters, with medical crew then stabilizing the patient.

The patient was transported back to a staging area and transferred to an ambulance for further evaluation.

"This incident demonstrates the effectiveness of multi-agency collaboration and highlights the importance of continued training and preparedness in Grand County's remote regions," read a press release about the effort.

If you're interested in supporting Colorado's volunteer-powered search and rescue operation, one way to do so is through the purchase of a CORSAR card . It's cheap, at only $5 per year.

STAY INFORMED: Get free Colorado news with our daily newsletter (Click here)