Arizona DPS Search and Rescue helicopter rescues hiker lost in Paria Canyon

Page AZ (June 6, 2013) – Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, the Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Rescue Helicopter from Flagstaff, and the Kane County Utah Sheriff’s Office located and rescued a lost 14-year-old boy separated from his party while hiking Paria Canyon.

Around 11:00 at night, the CCSO received a report of a lost hiker in Paria Canyon in northern Arizona, just off the Utah border. A Mesa (AZ) church Boy Scout troop, a scout leader and six scouts, had been on the second day of a multi-day hike in the canyon, entering the canyon at the Wire Pass Trailhead.

Some time on Wednesday afternoon, the 14-year-old boy became separated from his troop. Due to a lack of communication from inside the canyon, the leader hiked the group out to Lee’s Ferry and reported the lost scout.

The CCSO Search and Rescue Unit requested assistance from DPS Ranger Helicopter and ground searchers from the Kane County Sheriff’s Office and CCSO.

The DPS Air Rescue Helicopter and crew flew into the canyon and located the missing boy around 3:30 a.m. The flight crew was able to land the helicopter in the canyon. After determining the boy had no injuries, he was flown to Lee’s Ferry.

The Scout became separated from his troop after stopping to rest with a muscle cramp. He attempted to catch up, but could not do so before nightfall. The boy walked back up the canyon to a wide area where he placed his sleeping bag out in the open to be visible for searchers.

It should be noted that the availability and response of the DPS Air Rescue Helicopter was invaluable in the quick location and successful recovery of the hiker. Search and Rescue transported the boy to Flagstaff where he was reunited with his parents.

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