Shooting Victim airlifted from Mtn Rest

A Blackhawk helicopter zipped east across the Walhalla sky late Tuesday afternoon, transporting an injured hiker for medical treatment. Oconee County Emergency Services responded to assist the injured 74-year-old hiker on the yellow branch trail off Highway 28 in Mountain Rest.  Response units from Special Rescue, Walhalla Rescue, Mountain Rest Rescue, Oconee County Emergency Services Staff, Station 21, Walhalla Fire, Mountain Rest Fire, Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, U.S.Forest Service, Oconee Medical Center Ambulance, SC-HART, Med-trans Air Ambulance, all assisted in the rescue effort.  Oconee County Emergency Services director Scott Krein said, “On arrival units determined do to distance in woods, severity of injuries this patient was a candidate to be hoisted out by the SC-HART Team.  Working with the State Emergency Management Division and direct contact with the HART Coordinator, we were able to secure this flight.  With 20 rescuers and personnel on the scene, a remote extraction point was located and cleared for safe extraction and Medic were evacuated to the Black Hawk Helicopter and taken to awaiting Air Ambulance for transport to the hospital. We thank all our partners for their help in this successful rescue.  Each one involved played an important role helping to accomplish our goal.”