AprMay 2009

Fremont County Search and Rescue was called out to assist Island Park Ambulance with a snowmobile accident on the old railroad trestle that crosses Henry’s Fork Snake River below Big Spring in Island Park, Idaho. A 68 year old gentleman from Idaho Falls was riding across the train trestle below Big Spring and lost control of his snowmobile. The snowmobile veered onto its side pinning the gentleman by his ankle between the snowmobile and the train trestle. The gentleman was hanging on upside down, and the only thing holding him was his pinned ankle. FCS&R used ropes to set up a repel line, allowing them to repel to his location. A safety/haul line was placed on the individual, hoisted him up over the edge, and freed him from his snowmobile. Island Park Ambulance and Fremont County Search and Rescue applied first aid to the individual before transporting him on FCS& R’s back country scow sled to the Island Park Ambulance that transported him to the hospital.

Approximately 8:45 P.M., 10 Fremont County Search and Rescue members headed to the Island Park area to rescue 2 individuals from St. Anthony traveling in a Pathfinder lost west of the West End of Island Park Reservoir. It was reported to Commander Brett Mackert the individuals had been driving around a considerable time, finally becoming lost, and called in for assistance to find their way out. About 12:45 A.M. members had a visual on taillights. Members shined a spotlight at the vehicle, and they turned their vehicle around giving members a visual on their headlights. Terrain to reach individuals was rocky, heavily treed, and slick because of recent rainfall. Members made contact with the individuals at 1:14 A.M. Members led the lost out through poor road conditions reaching the Yale Kilgore road at 2:14 A.M. and finally to US Highway 20 in Island Park at 2:59 A.M. Members headed home or their weekend campsites after the rescue.

May 30, 2009

#1 - At 9:45 A.M., 17 Fremont County Search and Rescue members equipped with horses and 4-wheelers, headed to Island Park, up the Yale Kilgore Road to locate 55 year old Terry Cahoon who had not been seen or heard from since early Thursday morning. Members from Bonneville County Search and Rescue and Wyoming K-9 Search and Rescue responded with search dogs and handlers to assist with the search. Search dogs and handlers headed out with search members while some members contacted neighbors and business to see if anyone had recently seen Terry. Other unit members searched on horses or on foot to assist with the search. Shortly before 4:00 P.M. the deceased individual was located.

#2 - At the same time this search was in progress, FCS&R was called to a water rescue in St. Anthony for a young gentleman stranded in the middle of the Snake River below the sand bar and the diversion dam near Keefer Park. 80% of the Unit members involved with the search in Island Park headed toward St. Anthony to help. With the assistance of St. Anthony Police Department, Unit members still in St. Anthony were able to bring the young gentleman to safety before the other members arrived. The rescuers used a rope as a tow line and brought the young gentleman to shore. He was check for hypothermia and released.