Oregon Army National Guard helicopter crew rescues injured rock climber from narrow ledge near Ochoco Reservoir

(Update: More information regarding National Guard helicopter crew)

Crook, Deschutes County SAR teams were unable to reach woman hit by falling rock

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) – An Oregon Army National Guard helicopter crew rescued a climber injured by a falling rock near Ochoco Reservoir Wednesday night after search and rescue teams from Crook and Deschutes counties were unable to remove her from a narrow ledge 30 feet above the valley floor.

Crook County sheriff’s deputies and Crook County Fire & Rescue responded around 4:15 p.m. to the report of an injured 49-year-old woman, Sergeant Javier Sanchez said.

An initial investigation found that a man and woman were rock climbing north of US Highway 26E near the Ochoco Reservoir east of Prineville, he said.

While the two were climbing, a rock fell and hit the woman in the torso, knocking her down to a ledge that was about 8 feet wide and about 30 feet off the valley floor, Sanchez said.

Crook County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue was activated. “However, due to the rugged terrain that was made up of steep hillsides and loose rocks SAR members weren’t able to retrieve her,” the sergeant said in a news release early Thursday.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue rope team was contacted to assist with removing the woman, but the rugged terrain also stymied their efforts, the sergeant said.

The Oregon National Guard was then contacted to assist.

An Oregon Army National Guard HH-60M Black Hawk was sent from a pre-deployed asset stationed in Redmond to support Oregon Department of Forestry for Search and Rescue operations for fire season.  They are scheduled to remain on through the holiday weekend and perhaps demobilize in September, said Lt. Colonel Stephen Bomar, director of public affairs for the Oregon Military Department.

The helicopter team shortly after 8 p.m. was able to evacuate the woman and take her to St. Charles Bend for treatment. At last report, the woman was in stable condition, Sanchez said.

"The Crook County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank Crook County Fire and Rescue, as there were six medics who attended the female, and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team," Sanchez wrote. "A special thanks to the Oregon National Guard Medevac team, as they were able to safely rescue the female and transport her for further medical treatment."

Bomar called it "another great example of the Oregon Army National Guard working with local first responders to help those in need."

Bomar also noted that two 22-person Oregon National Guard fire crews were demobilizing Thursday fin Bend rom supporting ODF on the fire lines.