Overview
- First responders were alerted to an injured man on the Angle Worm Trail around 8:21 p.m. on Thursday, June 26, after reports of a severe leg wound from a machete.
- The Minnesota Air Rescue Team hoisted the man from the trail, flew him to an ambulance waiting at the Ely Airport, and he was taken to Ely hospital for treatment.
- Authorities said the injuries are not believed to be life-threatening but have not released the man’s name, current medical details, or how the machete injury happened.
- The Angle Worm Trail is a primitive, 12-mile route with no cell coverage and rugged terrain, which prevents easy ground ambulance access and made the hoist operation necessary.
- The case highlights the region’s reliance on specialized state rescue assets like MART’s hoist-capable helicopters for night and remote extractions and raises questions about preparedness and safety in backcountry travel.