Grand Teton National Park rangers rescued an injured hiker today, August 7, after he slipped and tumbled 20 feet on rocky terrain and sustained facial and lower leg injuries. Paul Danes, 23, of Raleigh,
North Carolina was scrambling alone and off trail near the mouth of Hanging Canyon at the time of his
accident.
Other day hikers who were in the Hanging Canyon area heard cries for help and discovered Danes. They provided basic care for his injuries and placed a cell phone call for help at 12:45 p.m. that was received by Teton Interagency Dispatch Center.
Based upon the call and the relatively close location to the Jenny Lake westshore trail, rangers made preparations to evacuate Danes by a wheeled-litter handled by four rescuers. Upon reaching Danes by foot, rangers determined that a helicopter short-haul evacuation was the more prudent rescue technique. The decision was made because of a combination of Danes' injuries and the rough and rocky terrain over which the wheeled-litter would be hauled to complete an evacuation by ground.
A Teton Interagency contract helicopter was summoned at 3 p.m. and an aerial evacuation of the injured hiker was completed by 4:15 p.m. Danes was transported by park ambulance to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for further medical treatment.
Danes is working as a seasonal concession employee in Yellowstone National Park for the summer.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
