News Release from: Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office leads Mt. Hood rescue mission; injured climber airlifted to hospital

Posted: July 6th, 2008, 3:55 p.m.

On Sunday, July 6, the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office led a successful mission to rescue a seriously injured climber on Mt. Hood.

The injured climber -- Erik Scott Heerlein, 35, a resident of Charleston, South Carolina -- reportedly fell at least 100 feet at the 10,000-foot elevation on Mt. Hood -- in the vicinity of what is known as the "Devil's Kitchen" region on the mountain. Heerlein reportedly suffered a serious head injury, but was conscious and breathing.

 The rescue mission was launched at 10:30 a.m. on July 6, when Clackamas County Communications Center (C-COM) dispatchers received a cell-phone call from members of the climbing party who were on the mountain attending to the seriously injured Heerlein.

This climbing party was extraordinarily fortunate to have a physician and paramedic on the climbing team; they monitored and attended to Heerlein at the accident scene. In addition, this climbing party was well-equipped with cellular telephones and GPS technology that helped rescue personnel get to the scene quickly.

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel coordinated this rescue mission from a command post established at Timberline Lodge.

Seven volunteers from Portland Mountain Rescue (PMR) were mobilized to assist with this ongoing rescue mission. They followed four American Medical Response Reach & Treat (RAT) team personnel to the rescue scene.

This RAT team traveled by snowcat to the top of the Palmer Glacier, then continued on to reach the patient by foot.

The 1042nd U.S. Army National Guard helicopter airlifted Heerlein from the mountain at approximately 3:30 p.m. Sunday, transporting the injured climber to Oregon Health & Science University Hospital in Portland.

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office would once again like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the men and women who participated in this most urgent rescue mission: Portland Mountain Rescue, Mountain Wave Emergency Communications, American Medical Response, Hoodland Fire, and especially, the 1042nd U.S. Army National Guard.

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Contact Info: Jim Strovink, Detective