Fatal fall during hoist rescue, Nevada

[MikeNYC]

Officer killed during rescue of hiker NW of Vegas

Las Vegas search and rescue police officer "somehow detached from the line in midair and fell a "non-survivable" distance to the ground below, officials said"

[TorqueOfTheDevil]

Very sad news. A reminder, if anyone needed it, how hazardous winching is, and how brave are those who regularly go on the wire

[500guy]

I thought Las Vegas PD operated only 530FFs. I've never seen a hoist on a 500. Perhaps it was short haul? or state police?

[MikeNYC]

Could have been short haul, but all news stories indicate hoist. Seems they operate more than 500s:

"The Air Support Unit’s fleet consists of one Hughes 500D, three McDonnell Douglas 530Fs, one Bell 407, two Bell HH1H Hueys, and a Cessna Skylane TR182. The Air Support Unit operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and flies 6,000 hours annually." (LVMPD > Sections > Air Support)

[LRP]

Very sad indeed. Not trying to side track the thread but maybe it's time to leave some of these hikers/climbers/motorists "stranded", a little chlorine for the gene pool. A good man died trying to help a moron. Rant over.