OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — Coast Guard helicopter crews rescued two injured hikers who had fallen about 50 feet into a ravine in Olympic National Park on Wednesday.
The hikers, who were not identified, were taken to Olympic Medical Center. There was no report on their conditions.
A MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew was launched from the Port Angeles Coast Guard station at a little after noon Wednesday.
At the time, it was believed that only one hiker was stranded, said Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Katelyn Tyson,
Park rangers had said that rescue crews would have had to hike about 12 miles to reach him.
The helicopter crew lowered a rescue swimmer and a litter to transport the injured 19-year-old man, and then discovered that a second hiker, who had minor injuries, was also in the ravine.
The injured 19-year-old had told park rangers by satellite phone that he had fallen into a ravine and his condition was deteriorating, said Tyson, who added that Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound was notified at about 7:30 a.m.
Park personnel asked just before 11 a.m. that the Coast Guard evacuate the hiker.
In addition to the Port Angeles crew, a crew in a MH-60 Jayhawk from Coast Guard Air Station Astoria, Ore., which was flying near Port Ludlow, was diverted to assist.
Park personnel assisted in the rescue, the Coast Guard said.
