Dramatic Video Shows Moment Helicopter Rescue Mission Turned Into Scary Out-of-Control Ride for Hiker

Photo: FOX10 News

A helicopter rescue turned into a terrifying ride for an elderly woman airlifted from an Arizona hiking trail on Tuesday.

“Once we got the forward flight, the spin got quite a bit less to where they were safely able to bring the patient up to the aircraft,” said the pilot in command of the rescue, Derek Geisel, in apress conferencefrom Phoenix Fire Tuesday afternoon.

Phoenix Police lead air unit pilot Paul Apolinar added that out-of-control spinning has only occurred twice in 210 rescues over the past six years, and the last occurrence was three to four years ago.

“It’s very rare,” he told reporters. “I can tell you it’s something that occurs infrequently. It’s not something that occurs very often.” Apolinar added that it’s so rare, in fact, the department has to force the spinning to happen during training exercises.

“Reports from the hospital are that she is stable and she had no ill effects from the spin,” Dubnow said in the press conference, adding that responders were aware of the spin before treating her.

RELATED VIDEO: Georgia Mom, 29, Disfigured in Campfire Accident: ‘My Burns Don’t Define Who I Am’

Given factors like the woman’s age, the terrain of the location and the weather, “the helicopter was the correct decision,” Dubnow said.

“Sometimes if we’re in a canyon, it’s a strong windy day, it will spin on us,” Dubnow said. “It’s not something that happens very often, but sometimes it just does. And when it does, we’re trained to take care of it.”

source: people.com