Sergeant Gregory Harper, a conservation law enforcement officer with the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG), has been recognized by the La Paz County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) for his contributions to a recent mine rescue effort.
During a terrifying operation that lasted several hours, personnel from multiple law enforcement and government agencies worked to free the woman who was trapped at the bottom of the 200-foot-deep mine shaft.
The woman was eventually extricated and taken to Yuma Regional Medical Center where she is reportedly in stable condition, according to a social media post from LCSO.
“It was certainly an interesting thing to be a part of,” Harper said.
On the afternoon of Sunday, April 7, Harper was in Yuma off-duty helping out a neighbor of his parents' when he got a call from an LCSO lieutenant he knew from work. His agency had received a 911 call about an accident at a mine in a very remote area, about a mile and a quarter mile from the boundary of the Yuma Proving Grounds. The YPG Police Department frequently cooperates with law enforcement agencies in the surrounding area, and Harper was eager to help, especially considering the area's treacherous terrain.
“Once he explained the situation and told me how far out he was, I jumped in my truck and headed straight to the job site and got ready to go,” Harper recalled. “Typically, we'd assist even on our off days because we know the site so well. We're much more aware of the risks on the site and the routes that should and shouldn't be taken. Sending someone out who isn't familiar with the terrain could make the situation much worse.”
During the long journey between Yuma and the remote area of La Paz County, he called a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wildlife officer with whom he had worked. The two had extensive knowledge of the rugged, roadless mountainous terrain in the area, and encountered the fallen woman's friend near the scene. The friend was searching for cell phone signal to contact LCSO. The friend drove the two officers to the scene of the accident. Adding to the tension, the fallen woman's two children were at the scene and concerned for her safety.
“The last report I got was that she had fallen seven feet, landed on a flat surface and broken her ankle.”
Unfortunately, Harper and his Fish and Wildlife colleagues saw several shafts close together, leaving questions about which shaft the victim descended into first.
To make matters worse, night was approaching.
“That mine shaft is extremely unstable and could collapse at any moment,” Harper said.
The LCSO lieutenant who called Harper for help had also called a U.S. Air Force search and rescue team to request pararescue jumpers at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, about 300 miles away. As the team en route in two helicopters, Harper texted the airmen on board coordinates and photos of the area's terrain to help guide them safely to the scene upon arrival.
“At this point, we hadn't had any contact with the suspect who had fallen into the mine shaft for hours,” Harper said. “We didn't know the air quality where she was. It was very nerve-wracking as we were trying to coordinate things and make decisions.”
Harper and his colleagues positioned two pickup trucks for emergency workers to grab onto and begin the descent. By 11 p.m., they reached the victim, 200 feet below. She was conscious and talking to rescuers, who loaded her onto a stretcher and began the careful extraction.
“The Air Force paramedics were heroes,” Harper said. “They were very effective and worked extremely well together without any hesitation. There's an old saying that goes, 'slow is smooth, smooth is fast,' and they were the epitome of that.”
The woman was back on land, but she was still in danger: the terrain was too rugged and remote for a standard ambulance to access.
“I helped her into a patrol truck and two medical staff in my vehicle stabilised her. We then had to transport her up another side of the mountain and secure a landing spot for another helicopter.”
Harper was thankful the rescue was successful.
“Considering the circumstances, it all worked out well. It just took a little time though.”
Data collected: | November 4, 2024 |
Posted on: | November 4, 2024 09:46 |
Story ID: | 468293 |
position: | Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, USA |
Web view: | 298 |
download: | 0 |
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