Just before 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 12, the Alpine Rescue Team was alerted about two individuals off route on Kelso Ridge near the summit of Torreys Peak in Clear Creek County.

Mission leaders for the Alpine Rescue Team were able to maintain phone contact with the party on Kelso Ridge and gave them directions to get back on route and to the summit. From there, the party could then safely take the summer trail down.

After an hour, the two individuals were able to make it to the summit. However, while on the phone with the Alpine Rescue Team, the pair was struck by lightning. The force of the strike caused one member of the party to become unresponsive, resulting in an emergency response from Alpine Rescue as well as Clear Creek EMS and Clear Creek Fire.

Five ground teams were sent into the area to perform an evacuation mission from the summit while a hoist was also requested. Two rescue technicians from Vail Mountain Rescue Group were inserted on the summit around 11 p.m. and were able to hoist the critical patient.

According to Alpine Rescue, a small team continued to the summit to assist the second patient. The second patient, along with a rescue technician and Alpine Rescue members, were the airlifted from the summit at around midnight. All other field teams were able to leave the area at around 3 a.m. on Friday, June 13.

The rescue response was a massive team effort with Clear Creek EMS, Clear Creek Fire Authority, Colorado National Guard, Vail Mountain Rescue Group, Colorado Search and Rescue Association – CSAR, and Jeffcom 911 all contributing to the mission.

Alpine Rescue reminds people that situations can quickly change in the Colorado High Country and to come prepared with the 10 essentials in case of an emergency.