If one is so low as to not be able to receive VHF line of sight transmissions from ATC....what good is monitoring 121.5 going to do you......if you are blanked by terrain and miss the call....you have missed the call.
Accept it Crab....it ain't a perfect world out here.
Clear up a misconception I might have. You said the broken ankle call that started all this was not a flight that required special SAR procedures and that a HEMS aircraft could have done the mission....is that correct?
If so...why did not your SAR coordinator turn down that request and refer it to either the Police or HEMS outfit nearest the scene and thus retain a SAR asset for possible calls that would require SAR capability?