2 New Yorkers struck by lightning while hiking on Colorado peak were saved in record-high state helicopter rescue
Share and Follow

It was a striking view.

Two men from New York were struck by lightning while hiking on a Colorado peak. They were rescued by a helicopter, marking the highest-altitude helicopter rescue ever recorded in the state.

The hikers, who have not been named, called for assistance at approximately 5 p.m. on Thursday after losing their way while trying to climb Torreys Peak. This mountain is among the highest in the state, towering at 14,300 feet.

According to Jack Smith, a spokesperson for the Alpine Rescue Team, the pair seemed inexperienced and had attempted to reach the summit as part of a road trip across Colorado.

“I think it was probably just a lack of awareness.”

Emergency crews had just steered the men back on course when they were zapped by lightning minutes later — leaving one hiker unresponsive and in critical condition.

About 30 rescuers ascended the mountain while a Colorado National Guard Black Hawk chopper hoisted the injured man off the peak at 14,200 feet.

He was then rushed to the burn unit of a Denver hospital, where he remains in fair condition.

The helicopter returned around midnight to rescue the other wounded man, briefly touching down on the mountain before he was treated and released from a nearby hospital.

Emergency personnel believe the daring rescue shattered the state’s previous record of 13,700 feet — with such missions a challenge due to thinning air reducing a chopper’s lift at higher altitudes.

The Black Hawk’s max ceiling is around 19,000 feet.

Torreys Peak stands as the 11th-highest summit in Colorado.

With Post wires

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Chicago-born Pope Leo snubs trans women during holy dinner at Vatican

Vatican Dilemma: Chicago-Born Pope Leo’s Controversial Stance on Transgender Women Sparks Global Debate

At the Vatican’s annual “lunch for the poor” this past Sunday, Pope…
Rev. Jesse Jackson remains stable in Chicago hospital for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, not on life support, family says

Rev. Jesse Jackson Stable in Chicago Hospital with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy: Family Confirms No Life Support Needed

CHICAGO — The family of civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson provided…
Emily Blunt and Kate Hudson lead worst dressed at Governors Awards

Fashion Faux Pas: Emily Blunt and Kate Hudson Top Worst Dressed List at 2023 Governors Awards

Hollywood’s elite gathered for the 16th Annual Governors Awards in Los Angeles,…
Jeff Bezos's ex gives $700MILLION to 'historically black colleges'

MacKenzie Scott Donates $700 Million to Support Historically Black Colleges and Universities

MacKenzie Scott, the former spouse of Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, has continued her…
Exclusive | House GOP memo lays out plan to counter Dems 'anti-Trump' Epstein claims

Exclusive: House GOP Strategizes Response to Democratic Allegations Linking Trump to Epstein

On Monday, Republicans from the House Oversight Committee began circulating a report…
Human trafficking soars in blue city as gangs, highways fuel ‘perfect storm’ of child exploitation: experts

Rising Human Trafficking Concerns in Urban Areas as Experts Cite Gangs and Highways as Catalysts for Increased Child Exploitation

The alarming escalation of human trafficking incidents in one of the nation’s…
'Keep the peace': Jacksonville international grocer withdraws request to build halal meat processing plant after pushback

Community Concerns Lead to Withdrawal of Halal Meat Plant Proposal by Jacksonville Grocer

Apna Bazar, a staple in Jacksonville’s Beach Boulevard retail landscape, has decided…
Eric Adams meets with Netanyahu on taxpayer-funded Israel trip as he rips Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani

Eric Adams Engages with Netanyahu During Taxpayer-Funded Israel Visit, Criticizes Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani

On Monday, Mayor Eric Adams sat down with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin…