KITTITAS COUNTY, WA – A Seattle man was rescued by helicopter Sunday, July 6, after falling an estimated 500 feet into a steep ravine while mountain biking near Little Kachess Lake, according to the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office.
The emergency began at 11:39 a.m., when Kittcom dispatchers received a brief 911 text that read simply, “HELP.” Over the following 90 minutes, dispatchers worked through a weak cell signal to communicate with the 51-year-old man. He reported a severe leg injury and heavy bleeding after the fall along No Name Creek, near No Name Ridge.
The man was unable to reach his bicycle or supplies and was drifting in and out of consciousness. He used his phone to send messages to be shared with his wife and family in case he didn’t survive. Following instructions from dispatchers, he managed to construct a makeshift tourniquet from his bicycle helmet straps to slow the bleeding.
Kittitas County deputies began mobilizing search and rescue resources, but the steep terrain posed a serious challenge. Due to the urgency of the man’s condition, officials requested air support. The King County Sheriff’s Office responded with a hoist-equipped helicopter, Guardian 2, which was able to extract the injured man and transport him directly to Harborview Medical Center.
A Kittitas County Search & Rescue (KSAR) volunteer recorded the helicopter hoist operation. Authorities said the man’s fall may have spanned as much as 500 feet.
The Sheriff’s Office thanked the KSAR volunteers who responded during the holiday weekend, along with the King County Sheriff’s Office and the crew of Guardian 2 for their lifesaving efforts.