No Airlift, No Easy Way Out: TinyTown Crews Save Stranded Hiker

On July 30, multiple EMS personnel and drivers from Winter Fox Towning responded to reports of an injured hiker stranded on the steep mountainside beside TinyTown’s West Bridge. Crews quickly determined that the terrain made it impossible to drive an ambulance directly to the patient. With TinyTown currently lacking an operational air-rescue service, responders were forced to begin the dangerous journey on foot.

EMS personnel climbed down the ridge and found the hiker unconscious with several cuts and bruises. EMS responder Randomman said the patient had fallen from the middle of a cliff while mountain climbing.

“Luckily, he hadn’t fallen from the top of the mountain,” Randomman said.

With no safe way to quickly bring the patient back up, the emergency developed into a multiday rescue operation. Additional crew members repeatedly descended the mountainside carrying food, medical supplies, and equipment for both the patient and the responders. Randomman worked to keep the hiker stable throughout the difficult climb.

“I kept him as stable as I could, but it wasn’t easy while we were climbing,” Randomman said. “Whenever we stopped moving, I did what I could to treat and help him.”

MechanicFox of Winter Fox Towning helped bring the ambulance as far down the mountainside as the terrain safely allowed before taking his own truck down to assist. Although he described the descent as the most dangerous part of his role, he remained humble about his contribution.

“The hardest part was getting the ambulance down safely, then bringing my truck down to help,” MechanicFox said. “But honestly, I didn’t put in nearly as much work as the others.”

There were several moments when the rescue appeared close to failure. MechanicFox said the situation looked especially grim when the paramedics became stuck farther down the mountainside, beyond where he could clearly see or reach them.

“I thought it was over,” he said. “Somehow, they managed to get out—and they brought the patient with them.”

The most dangerous stage came near the end of the operation. When the crew reached a section that could not be climbed normally, Shiznitts used a heavy-duty drone to lift the patient and responders a short distance up the mountainside. Shiznitts admitted that the outcome briefly appeared uncertain.

“I’ve got to be honest—it got pretty grim there for a moment,” Shiznitts said. “Steering was the most difficult part. I was flying blind for most of the lifting process.”

Randomman recalled that those riding on top of the drone nearly fell off several times during the risky ascent. Despite the dangerous terrain, exhaustion, and lack of traditional air support, EMS personnel and the drivers of Winter Fox Towning refused to leave the injured hiker behind.

After days of uncertainty, difficult climbing, and a final drone lift performed with limited visibility, the crew finally reached safe ground with the hiker alive. The patient was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital for further treatment, bringing the exhausting rescue operation to a successful end. For Shiznitts, seeing the hiker leave the mountainside safely proved that every dangerous moment had been worthwhile.

“It was relieving, but also very exciting,” Shiznitts said. “That was the moment that made everything worth it.”