Latest news with #hikingaccident
CBS News
5 hours ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Alpine rescue team recounts emergency rescue of Colorado hiker struck by lightning
A hiker was critically injured in Colorado on Thursday when they were struck by lightning on the summit of Torrey's Peak. First responders said the rescue was a massive team effort between a few different agencies, starting with a radio call into the Alpine Rescue Team's HQ. "He comes back on to say more, which is that the two had made it to the summit," Jake Smith, President of the Alpine Rescue Team, said. "He was on the phone with them and said they've been struck by lightning, and then at that time it was just kind of 'Go, go, go get things ready, get out the door!'" According to the Alpine Rescue Team, they received a page when two hikers went off route on Kelso Ridge just before 5 p.m. Mission leaders stayed on the phone with the hikers until they were able to get back to the route to the summit. They said the hikers made it to the summit around an hour later. It was there that the pair were in the path of the storm, and one of them was seriously injured. "They were talking about, you know, it's super windy up here, we're kind of stuck in hail, we're going to start descending. And then the next thing you heard was a super loud commotion, a phone drop, and just screaming," Smith said, detailing the phone call. "After a few more seconds, somebody came back on the line had said, 'We've been hit by lightning. My partner's down. He's not responsive. He's foaming at the mouth. Do I start CPR? What do I do?'" Alpine Rescue Team Five ground teams went to help the hikers and requested a hoist to evacuate them, but because of that storm, both helicopters that would typically show up to a rescue like this were unable to fly. Thanks to the National Guard, whose helicopter was able to make it through the storm and up to the top of the 14er, around 11 p.m., two rescue teams from Vail Mountain Rescue Group reached the critical patient. They were able to hoist that person out aboard a Gypsum-based Colorado Army National Guard helicopter. One of the ground teams helped the second hiker before they were flown from the summit at midnight. "In the state of Colorado, we've had many rescues where we've had military helicopters land on the top of fourteeners," Smith explained. "But for them to actually hoist a subject above that 14er and raise them up on the table, we're fairly confident that this is the highest (hoist) in the state's history." Alpine Rescue Team "This call illustrates how quickly situations change in Colorado's high country, and the importance of having your 10 essentials and being prepared for a lengthy evacuation," said Alpine Rescue. They said they're happy to help those having a hard time in the mountains, rain or shine, and for folks not to hesitate to call if they are in trouble. "Don't wait to call for us," Smith said. "That could also take a situation from bad to worse. If you think you need help, we are happy to answer that call, even if it just means giving you some advice and maybe some encouragement. We don't charge." A lesson to be learned from this, according to Smith, is to summit your mountains early in the day, and make sure you are descending early too. Afternoon thunderstorms make an almost daily appearance between 2-3 P.M., and while this situation included issues even later in the afternoon/evening, storms still came. "If you're on Bierstadt, you can see those storms coming from the west," Smith said. "Unfortunately, if you're on a peak like Torrey's, you're not going to see the storms until you're at the top. So on those peaks where you're approaching from the east, I'd say it's especially critical to start early. Finish early because you may get to the top and find that there's a huge storm wall headed your way, and you don't have a lot of time to descend by using it."
CBS News
2 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Hiker struck by lightning, critically injured in Colorado high country
A hiker was critically injured in Colorado on Thursday when they were struck by lightning on the summit of Torrey's Peak. First responders said the rescue was a massive team effort. According to the Alpine Rescue Team, they received a page when two hikers went off route on Kelso Ridge just before 5 p.m. Mission leaders stayed on the phone with the hikers until they were able to get back to the route to the summit. They said the hikers made it to the summit around an hour later. Alpine Rescue Team Five minutes later, one of the hikers called 911 to report his partner had been struck by lightning and was unresponsive. Five ground teams went to help the hikers and requested a hoist to evacuate them. Around 11 p.m., two rescue teams from Vail Mountain Rescue Group were able to hoist the critical patient out. One of the ground teams helped the second hiker before they were flown from the summit at midnight. Alpine Rescue Team "This call illustrates how quickly situations change in Colorado's high country, and the importance of having your 10 essentials and being prepared for a lengthy evacuation," said Alpine Rescue. They said they're happy to help those having a hard time in the mountains, rain or shine.
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Beloved adult star Colton Ford, 62, dies in mysterious hiking trail accident
Beloved gay adult entertainer Colton Ford has died at the age of 62 in a mysterious hiking trail accident, according to his friends. The star, whose real name was Glenn Soukesian, was found dead on Monday night on the Goat Trails in Palm Springs. His remains were discovered after police revived a report of a missing hiker hours before. Mystery surrounds the nature of the fatal accident, as police have yet to reveal any additional details. The entertainer's loved ones reported him missing after he did not return home on Sunday. They confirmed that the remains found on Monday were those of Colton, as reported by the Bay Area Reporter. Authorities say they have ruled out any foul play Colton's death. Palm Springs Police spokesperson Lieutenant Mike Villegas also said they do not have any information on the cause of death. 'He was on a local hiking trail here in Palm Springs,' Colton's friend Tim Wood wrote on Facebook. 'The police have not shared the details of their findings yet, so we don't really know what happened to cause his death.' Wood added: 'My heart is broken - it's almost too much to take. 'One of my best friends, a man who helped save my life many years ago. I miss you terribly. I can't stop the flood of tears.' Colton, originally from Pasadena, had a late start as a adult film star - not releasing his first work until the age of 40 in 2001, according to OUT magazine. Some of his most famous adult films include Conquered, Gang Bang Cafe and Colton. In 2003, he won the coveted GayVN Award for Gay Performer of the Year. Colton was also an actor and musician and released several albums such as Tug of War in 2008 and The Way I Am in 2013. He appeared in movies like Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild! and music videos including Cyndi Lauper's Into The Nightlife. And he starred in the TV series The Lair as Sheriff Trout from 2007 to 2009. Famous drag queen Chi Chi LaRue, who also directs adult films, shared a tribute for Colton on Facebook. 'I'm So Shocked and Saddened to Hear and Report the sudden passing of my friend and Icon Glen aka Colton Ford! You will missed! Keep Singing In Heaven!; LaRue wrote under his real name, Larry David Paciotti.
