A 74-year-old man suffered suspected head, neck and spinal injuries in a fall while hiking on the Harding Icefield Trail on Thursday afternoon, according to a Friday release from the National Park Service.
Alaska State Troopers responded to the scene via an HELO 3 helicopter, which landed about one-quarter of a mile from where the hiker was injured, according to a Friday dispatch from the Alaska State Troopers. An emergency room doctor, who was also hiking on the trail, assisted the injured hiker until help arrived.
The National Park Service reported park rangers with medical training and the Bear Creek Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene. The injured hiker was assisted back to the helicopter and taken to Providence Seward Medical Center.
Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.
