Operations out of Bellingham,
Washington, searches for a stranded
hiker Saturday.
BELLINGHAM, Wash.— A helicopter crew from U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations rescued a stranded hiker Saturday afternoon on Jack Mountain southeast of Ross Lake.
The 62-year-old man set off on a day hike Friday, but ran into trouble and was forced to spend the night on the mountain. Fortunately, the hiker was able to text his wife his latitude and longitude before his cellphone battery went dead.
Agents from the Bellingham Air and Marine Branch rescued the man after receiving a search-and-rescue request from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. The agents responded to the man’s last known location in a CBP helicopter and located him within minutes. After providing him with food and water, agents reunited him with awaiting family members.
In all, Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. National Park Service, U.S. Navy Whidbey Island Search and Rescue, and CBP took part in the rescue.
Operations out of Bellingham,
Washington, rescued a stranded
hiker Saturday.
In addition to its homeland security mission, the Bellingham Air and Marine Branch has participated in three rescues in Washington state this year and deployed a helicopter and crew to assist recovery operations during Hurricane Florence.