CAMP DENALI, Alaska— The Alaska Air National Guard rescued an injured male hiker approximately nine miles southeast of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near the Glen Alps early Friday morning after Alaska State Troopers requested a hoist equipped helicopter.

According to the 11^th Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (RCC), the injured man fell while hiking Thursday evening and his party was able to contact Alaska State Troopers via cell phone.

The Anchorage Fire Department was first on scene to assist the hiker, ensuring he was stable, conscious and not bleeding.

“The RCC was contacted at 11:10 p.m. to assist with the mission because Alaska State Troopers didn’t have the assets to reach the hiker’s location,” said Capt. Koa Bailey, 11^th Air Force RCC senior controller. “The difficult terrain required a helicopter with hoist capabilities.”

The RCC alerted the Alaska Air National Guard’s 210^th and 212^th Rescue Squadrons, and following a situation brief, they launched an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter with a six-person crew at 12:11 a.m.

Guardian Angels from the Alaska Air National Guard, arrived at 1 a.m. and promptly began operations by lowering two pararescuemen via hoist onto the scene.

According to the RCC, the hiker, who was suffering from a compound fractured ankle, was hoisted onto the HH-60 helicopter before being transported to an Anchorage hospital.

“It’s our mission to be called out anytime and anyplace to save people’s lives and assist our community,” Bailey said. “And that’s a mission we take great pride in.”

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