CEDAR CITY — A woman who was injured while hiking on a trail near Brian Head was successfully transported to an ambulance after a two-hour rescue effort.
Iron County Search and Rescue responded to an alert of a woman with a broken ankle at approximately 4:08 p.m. on Monday at the Hidden Haven Trail in Parowan Canyon. The agency shared details of the incident in a recent Facebook post.
The team used a stokes basket with a wheel to move the woman to a Gold Cross Ambulance and immobilized her ankle with an air splint, according to the post. She was loaded for transport about two hours after rescue efforts began.
Twelve search and rescue volunteers, the Iron County Sheriff’s Deputy liaison, two Brian Head Marshall deputies and two members of Gold Cross Ambulance responded to the call, the post states.
“We are thankful for the incredible interagency collaboration and communication,” the post states. “We wish the patient a speedy recovery.”
While rescue teams don’t take group photos at incident scenes, the woman’s “very grateful” husband requested a photo with the rescuers and his wife, the post states. They closed the ambulance door for the patient’s privacy.
The Hidden Haven Trail was damaged this summer by flash floods. Benson Creek, which flows through the area, was rerouted onto the trail, deeply eroding it in some sections. Large rocks, trees and other debris were deposited, St. George News previously reported.
Additionally, floodwaters eroded cliffs approximately 100 yards from the picnic tables, past the sagebrush meadow and it is now more difficult and dangerous to complete the trail and see the waterfall at its end.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, which stewards the area, has posted warning signs to alert hikers of the trail’s risks, Southern Region Habitat Manager Gary Bezzant said.
“We urge caution, especially when rain is in the forecast,” he said.
Ron Roth, a volunteer who has worked to restore the Hidden Haven Trail said that because of yesterday’s incident, he requested to install additional warning signs for hikers to prevent future injuries and is waiting for approval from the Utah Department of Natural Resources.
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