A hiker was carried from a trail in Madera Canyon early Friday after experiencing a medical emergency that prompted a mountain rescue response. Emergency personnel were sent to the Bog Spring Trail just before 8:50 a.m., where crews from the local fire district and partner agencies worked together to reach and extricate the patient.
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Rescue crews hiked roughly 0.65 miles from the trailhead to the location of the hiker before beginning the evacuation. Because of the terrain on that portion of the Santa Rita Mountains, crews moved the patient using a Stokes basket, a specialized rescue stretcher commonly used in rugged terrain. The stretcher was used to transport the individual safely across the ground to the point where ground units could assume care.
Rescue crews from Tubac Fire District and Santa Rita Fire assist a hiker onto a stretcher after a medical emergency in Madera Canyon.
Medical personnel described the patient as being in stable condition when transferred to awaiting medical transport and a local hospital for additional evaluation. Officials did not release the person’s name, age or other identifying information, and they declined to provide details about the specific nature of the medical emergency that prompted the rescue.
The response was a coordinated effort. Units from the Santa Rita Fire District reached the scene and were assisted by crews from Tubac Fire and the Drexel Heights Fire District. American Medical Response (AMR) paramedics and personnel from the U.S. Forest Service also assisted during the operation, helping move the patient from the trail to higher-capability medical care.
Crews said the operation required a sustained, on-foot approach given the distance from the trailhead and the configuration of the Bog Spring Trail. After stabilization on site, rescuers secured the patient in the Stokes basket and carried them back along the route toward the waiting ambulances. The patient was then transported to a nearby hospital for further care.
Madera Canyon and the larger Santa Rita Mountains attract hikers and outdoor enthusiasts year-round, and local agencies noted the region is currently experiencing summer heat. First responders issued reminders to outdoor recreationalists to plan ahead before heading into the backcountry: carry plenty of water, avoid the most strenuous activity during the hottest parts of the day, and let someone know hiking plans and expected return times.
No additional information about the incident has been released, and officials said they will not be providing further details about the patient’s condition or the cause of the medical emergency. Emergency personnel who took part in the rescue returned to service after the patient was transferred to the hospital and the scene was cleared.
Local scanner account @TUCscanner reported early in the response that the affected hiker was a 70-year-old man suffering from seizures, offering insight into the urgency of the call that prompted the multi-agency effort in the summer heat.