Dramatic Rescue East of Superior
SUPERIOR, Ariz. — The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) Search and Rescue team successfully conducted a difficult helicopter hoist operation to rescue an injured rock climber east of Superior. The operation marks another successful collaboration between PCSO and federal agencies in their ongoing efforts to conduct rescues in Arizona’s challenging terrain.
According to PCSO, deputies responded to reports of a rock climber who had fallen approximately 40 feet in a remote area east of Superior. The injured climber suffered a broken leg and was trapped in a U-shaped rock outcropping, making ground access extremely difficult.
Technical Helicopter Operation
PCSO’s Search and Rescue team utilized their Huey helicopter to perform the rescue. The operation required exceptional skill from the pilots who had to navigate the aircraft between rock walls on both sides. The rescue team conducted a 270-foot hoist operation, which approached the maximum capacity of their equipment, as the helicopter’s hoist limit is 300 feet.
The operation showcased the ongoing partnership between PCSO and Border Patrol, as a BORSTAR (Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue) paramedic was on board and was lowered into the canyon to provide immediate medical care to the injured climber. The BORSTAR agent was able to treat the patient before both were successfully hoisted out of the location.
Following the rescue, the climber was transported to Superior Fire and later flown to a Valley hospital for further treatment.
Continuing Partnership with Federal Agencies
This rescue follows a similar joint operation between PCSO and U.S. Border Patrol in December 2024, when the Sheriff’s Aviation Unit assisted in rescuing an injured migrant from Arizona’s mountainous desert terrain.
BORSTAR, established in 1998 in response to growing injuries to Border Patrol agents and migrant deaths along the nation’s borders, provides specialized law enforcement and search and rescue capabilities. The unit conducts tactical medical operations and search and rescue training for federal, state, local, and international government agencies, making it a valuable partner for PCSO’s Search and Rescue operations.
Critical Role of PCSO Search and Rescue
The Pinal County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team responds to emergency situations throughout the county, performing complex operations in challenging terrain. Their specialized training and equipment allow them to conduct technical rescues in remote areas where conventional access is difficult or impossible.
Future Rescue Collaborations
As challenging rescue operations continue in Pinal County’s diverse and often hazardous terrain, the partnership between PCSO’s Search and Rescue teams and federal agencies like BORSTAR is expected to remain crucial in addressing future emergencies, particularly in remote areas that are difficult to access by conventional means.
The PCSO Search and Rescue unit will likely continue to play a vital role in emergencies requiring specialized extraction techniques in Pinal County’s diverse terrain.
