Emergency responders converged on the slopes of Mount Hood late Wednesday afternoon but were unable to save the life of an injured 15-year-old hiker.
Evan Clark of Hinsdale, Ill., died of internal injuries after a chunk of ice about the size of a refrigerator fell on him when he climbed under a snowbank, according to Hood River County Undersheriff Duane Troxel.
Troxel said the teen had been exploring along a streambed when the accident occurred about 1.5 miles west of Cloud Cap. He had been hiking on the northeast side of the mountain that day with his father and brother and the trio had stopped for a lunch break.
The father reportedly used his cell phone to call for help about 3:40 p.m. and Troxel said the National Guard 304th Rescue Squadron in Portland had airlifted the boy to Portland's Legacy Emanuel Hospital & Health Center within 90 minutes of being paged by 9-1-1 dispatchers.
Although the youth was pronounced dead from cardiac arrest about 6:22 p.m., Troxel said the quick response of rescuers would have saved his life if the injuries had not been so severe.
He is worried about the time lag that will occur next year on rescues to remote areas since the Air Force is reclaiming the helicopters used by the 304th for active military duty and air lifts will no longer be available from a nearby location.
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