Rescue teams retrieve stranded paraglider

A military helicopter aided in a rescue after a paraglider was left stranded on a steep cliff in west-central Grant County on Sunday.

The female paraglider, whose name was not given, became stranded on a cliff on the north face of the Saddle Mountains, possibly after crashing, according to a release from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

Several agencies, including Grant County fire districts and the Grant County Sheriff’s Office and LifeFlight air ambulance, coordinated Sunday afternoon to devise a rescue plan. A UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter was called to the scene and the woman was hoisted into it around 7:15 p.m.

She was flown to Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital to be treated for unspecified injuries, according to the release.

“This was a great example of how we train for difficult rescues and reach out to our partnering agencies in order to bring enough people and resources to get the job done,” said Fire District 10 Chief Eric Linn, in the release.

“It took a coordinated effort by everyone involved, and training and teamwork paid off,” echoed Darrik Gregg, Grant County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy of Emergency Management, according to the release. “Great teamwork, and we all wish the paraglider well.”