Overview
- Rescue crews located an injured male hiker near the Mormon Trailhead after a significant fall and used a helicopter to remove him from the mountain.
- A family member on scene alerted 9-1-1 and helped responders reach the hiker before he was airlifted to a hospital.
- Phoenix Fire Department officials say the man is unidentified and in extremely critical condition following the extraction.
- Authorities have not confirmed key facts about the incident, including how far he fell, whether he was on a marked trail, or if heat or a medical event played a role.
- Fire officials reiterated safety advice for South Mountain users, noting trails are uneven and loose, that helicopter extractions are needed when terrain or injuries block ground evacuation, and that hiking with others speeds emergency response.