Probably asking for it and its probably been asked before however...why don't the air ambulance guys have a winch particularly for occasions described above?
Different country I know, however I have been tasked to a MVA (or car accident), arrived on scene to find that no landing area is available ie in rugged terrain, and.....we have been able to winch our paramedic and doctor to the scene (they have appropriate training). Just having the capability rolled into a SAR/EMS platform gives flexibility = time saved.
Are NVG making there way into civil ops yet over there?
Cheers
Turkey