Travis County STAR Flight Nurse fell to her death

[chopper2004]

Sad news last night as a mate of mine whose quite close with the TC Starflight ops in Texas mentioned that a flight nurse was killed during a hoisting exercise
last night.

Texas STAR Flight Nurse Kristin McClain Dies in Fatal Fall From Rescue Helicopter - NBC News

[212man]

The woman being rescued remained attached to the hoist and has been transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries

Hoisting at night for that?

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Hoisting at night for that?

They might not have known her injuries were not life threatening when they elected to winch - the decision might have been made purely because her location/situation had the potential to be life-threatening if she had been left there.

However this is either an equipment failure or a serious procedural error for the rescuer to have fallen off the winch whilst the casualty remains attached - wonder if they had a pin in the winch hook?

It would be normal for the winchman(woman) to be last on the hook and, if the keep/gate on the hook opened during the cabin entry, it is possible for the karibiner (or whatever attachment method they use) to slip out.

[Peter-RB]

What a sad story , to end a life that has been saving others is really tragic, for her pals and family.

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Yes Peter, very tragic - let's hope they find out what happened to prevent it recurring in the future.