PORT ANGELES — A 14-year old hiker was airlifted to Port Angeles after hitting his head in a fall near Lake Ozette in Olympic National Park on Tuesday.
An HH-65C Dolphin helicopter crew from the Coast Guard Air Station/Group Port Angeles and airlifted the hiker, a boy, from Sand Point to the Coast Guard station at Ediz Hook.
From there, the teenager — who the Coast Guard declined to identify — was taken by ambulance to Olympic Medical Center.
“It seems he fell from a rock,” said Tim Mason, operations specialist 1st Class at the Port Angeles Coast Guard station.
Mason said the boy was conscious and alert after he fell from 3 feet to 3 ½ feet and landed on his head.
A park ranger bandaged the teen’s head, which had a small cut and appeared to be swelling, Mason said.
The hiker’s condition was unknown.
“The young man was with an organized group from the Tacoma area,” said Barb Maynes, Olympic National Park spokeswoman.
The hiker was unable to walk out after the fall, which occurred about 3 miles from the Ozette trailhead, Maynes said.
A park dispatcher received the report at about 1:30 p.m., Maynes said.
“Given the nature of the injures, assistance was requested from the Coast Guard,” Maynes said.
The Coast Guard helicopter landed in Port Angeles shortly after 4 p.m., Mason said.
Sand Point juts into the Pacific Ocean west of Lake Ozette.
It is part of the 9-mile Ozette triangle, a popular hiking loop.
“It’s a major coastal wilderness destination,” Maynes said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
