CAMP DENALI, Alaska— The Alaska Air National Guard rescued an injured male hiker on Flattop Mountain Tuesday evening following a request from Alaska State Troopers to assist with the transport of the patient to a local hospital.

The 11^th Rescue Coordination Center was contacted at 6:36 p.m. to assist with the mission after Anchorage Fire Department personnel and Troopers were unable to transport the patient safely down the popular hiking trail, and the Alaska State Troopers helicopter was unable to land at the site.

“We were requested because the angle of terrain prevented Helo 1 from landing at that location,” said Master Sgt. Kenneth Bellamy, 11^th Air Force Rescue Coordination Center controller. “The patient was suffering a knee injury, but was stable with medics from AFD on scene, so we requested Alaska Air National Guard support.”

The RCC immediately alerted the Alaska Air National Guard’s 210^th and 212^th Rescue Squadrons, and following a situation brief, they launched a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter with a six-person crew at 8:10 p.m.

Guardian Angels from the 210^th and 212^th Rescue Squadrons arrived on scene minutes later and promptly began operations to hoist the hiker onto the HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter before transporting him to Providence Alaska Medical Center for treatment.

The Alaska Air National Guard’s 210^th and 212^th Rescue Squadrons were awarded one save for this mission.