Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Conducts 3 Rescues On New Year’s Day

The New Year began with a series of search and rescue (SAR) operations as the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Forest Patrol, Deputies, and SAR teams responded to three separate incidents on January 1.

According to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, the most complex operation began at approximately 5:55 p.m. off Bumble Bee Road, where a 55-year-old male hiker fell from a ledge, sustaining a serious leg injury. The rescue mission faced immediate challenges due to weather and environmental conditions. Plunging temperatures and steady precipitation created a risk for hypothermia, with both the injured hiker and rescue team members beginning to experience symptoms.

A SAR team remained with the hiker throughout the night, maintaining a fire to provide warmth in the cold conditions. Additionally, flooding prevented first responders from transporting the patient to safety by ground.

The weather initially grounded air support, forcing multiple rescue attempts to be aborted due to unsafe flying conditions. In response, Deputies coordinated with the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA) to request a military Blackhawk helicopter. Following a night of coordination on the mountain, the Blackhawk crew successfully extracted the patient at 7:45 a.m. on Friday and transported him to the waiting medical personnel.

While the Bumble Bee operation was underway, deputies simultaneously managed two additional incidents:

• Wickenburg (6:20 p.m.): Deputies responded to the Blue Tank Wash area for a report of a lost female hiker. A Forest Patrol deputy located the hiker and escorted her safely to her vehicle.
• Sedona (6:27 p.m.): A deputy responded to a report of a lost male hiker. The hiker was located on the trail and brought to safety shortly thereafter.

“The events of the last 24 hours highlight the persistence and dedication of the YCSO Forest Patrol unit, deputies, and search and rescue teams, along with our partner agencies,” said Sheriff Rhodes. “From trail assists to an extraction using a military helicopter, they worked through the night in poor weather conditions to ensure every hiker made it home.”