AFR rescues three hikers injured in the Foothills

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – On Wednesday, Albuquerque Fire Rescue conducted a search and rescue operation in northeast Albuquerque after three hikers were injured. AFR was dispatched to the Embudo Trailhead around 3:30 p.m.

They received a call of three people injured while hiking off trail by a falling boulder. Several agencies were called out including the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico State Police, Albuquerque Mountain Rescue, and other search and rescue organizations.

Because of where the hikers were located and the terrain being too difficult to carry them, State Police used their helicopter to airlift the hikers out of the canyon and carried them to waiting ambulances.

“These hikers did sustain some serious injuries, there was a head injury to one, a pretty serious lower leg injury to another one. And those were the two that had to be pulled off the mountain by helicopter, there was another injury that was a little bit more minor,” said Lt. Jason Fejer.

It took three and a half hours to rescue the hikers because they were off-trail and three miles from the trailhead.

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