The Texas Department of Public Safety has released dramatic video capturing the rescue of a family of stranded hikers, including a 3-month-old baby, in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
Aerial video posted to the DPS Facebook page shows a couple lying on a path holding a baby as a helicopter circles above them.
A family of hikers is safe after being rescued from Guadalupe Mountains National Park by DPS’s Aircraft Operation Division. The distressed family of three, consisting of a 23-year-old man, a 23-year-old woman, and a three-month-old baby, were showing signs of dehydration and heat exhaustion when they became stranded on the side of Guadalupe Peak. After receiving a call for assistance, DPS aircraft were dispatched to locate the family by air. Once located, our team took action to bring the family to safety, performing a crane rescue and transporting them down the mountain for further medical care. Read more about the rescue at https://bit.ly/3X7TVEn.
Posted by Texas Department of Public Safety on Wednesday, August 28, 2024
The rescue occurred around 4:15 p.m. on Aug. 20 after a 23-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman became dehydrated and suffered from heat exhaustion due to the high temperatures, according to a DPS news release. The three had started the hike midmorning and ran out of water after walking nine miles.
After Guadalupe Mountains National Park rangers alerted DPS, a plane was sent to locate the family from the air.
After the hikers were located, an additional helicopter was deployed and a DPS officer conducted a medical evaluation on the couple and the baby.
According to DPS, all three were hoisted into the helicopter and taken down the mountain for further medical care.
DPS did not provide an update on the condition of the hikers.
Safety Tips for Hiking
Here are some tips for hikers from the National Park Service:
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Know your limits: don’t overestimate your own abilities and take a partner with you for extra safety.
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Plan your hike: Create an itinerary that details where you will be walking or hiking, your contact information, when you plan to arrive and return, and who will be traveling with you.
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Be prepared for the weather: check the weather conditions before you set off.
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Know what to bring: Bring enough water and food to last the entire hike. Hiking can quickly drain your energy.
This article originally appeared in the El Paso Times: Family of hikers rescued from Guadalupe Mountains National Park
