Video shows helicopter rescue of missing hiker in Olympic National Park

Video footage shows a Coast Guard air crew hoisting a missing hiker Sunday in Olympic National Park. A search party located the hiker, who was first reported missing on Sept. 16, in a ravine near Mount Olson.

A helicopter crew from Astoria, Oregon, hoisted the hiker, identified as Jerren Fisher, 26, and flew him to the Olympia Regional Airport. The crew landed at 8:30 p.m., and Fisher was transferred to awaiting emergency medical services in stable condition, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a news release.

An Olympic National Park search and rescue team located Fisher at around 4:35 p.m. Sunday. The team contacted the Coast Guard Air Station in Port Angeles as the ravine was steep and inaccessible to the search team, which was on foot, according to the news release.

The search party requested helicopter assistance around 5:10 p.m., according to the news release. Fisher used a flashlight to direct the helicopter to where he was, the Coast Guard said.

Another helicopter from Astoria, Oregon, was dispatched to the scene because of the complexity of getting Fisher out of the ravine and fuel constraints, according to the release. The Astoria crew took over rescue efforts at 7:20 p.m. and deployed a rescue swimmer into the ravine. Fisher was rescued around 8 p.m.

Fisher’s decision to wield his flashlight greatly assisted the air crew in locating him when they deployed the rescue swimmer into the wooded area, said Jason Joll, lieutenant commander on the Astoria air crew.

The air crew relayed that Fisher was in “good spirits,” the Coast Guard said on Twitter.

Fisher still had some food and water when he was found, Joll said. He had the necessary equipment to stay safe and “a strong will to survive,” making sure to collect rainwater during the weekend storm to drink, he added.

“He didn’t know how long he would be stuck and was resourceful by rationing food and water,” Joll said.

Fisher had headed out on a solo hike on the Graves Creek Trailhead on Sept. 8 and he was expected to camp near the area until Sept. 12. A family member reported him missing when he did not return Sept. 16, according to an Olympic National Park news release.