18-05-2025
Multi-agency rescue mission leads to Blackhawk helicopter landing on UNM campus
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – It was a multi-agency rescue mission that started in northern New Mexico and ended with the National Guard landing a helicopter on UNM's campus. 'We were wheels up immediately,' said Hank Minitrez, spokesperson for the New Mexico National Guard.
According to the National Guard, they received a call Friday evening about the incident along the Canadian River in Colfax County, saying one person was unconscious, and another had a broken leg. Local authorities attempted to make the rescue at first, but it was decided that one of the patients needed an airlift.
'What normally happens is, when every other effort is exhausted and they still can't get to the individual, then they'll notify the New Mexico National Guard,' Minitrez said.
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According to responding agencies, a New Mexico Game and Fish agent reached the individuals first by hiking to them. Other search and rescue agencies followed and were able to provide medical aid. Rescuers found out both patients were conscious and neither had a broken leg.
However, one of the patients was struggling to breathe, with responders suspecting they had broken ribs and a collapsed lung. It wasn't long before a Blackhawk helicopter was hovering over, and the patient was lifted.
'That's when our flight medic, very skilled, very experienced, was lowered down via cable hoist, made the assessment that this individual was having difficulty breathing,' Minitrez explained.
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The patient was taken to UNM's hospital. Albuquerque's Fire Rescue says the helipad at UNMH is not built for helicopters of that magnitude. So, the pilot was forced to land at UNM's Johnson Field with help from AFR and UNM police.
'Within minutes, we can dispatch one of our helicopter crews out there to perform the rescue, and that's exactly what happened last night,' Minitrez added.
According to the Colfax County Sheriff's Office, the second injured person was evacuated on foot. Agencies involved in the rescue included the Colfax County Sheriff's Office, Raton Fire and Rescue, and New Mexico Search and Rescue, among several others. This is the second time this year a Blackhawk helicopter was used to rescue someone in New Mexico.
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