Custer County Search and Rescue responded to extract a Texas man from the Texas Creek trail #1350 on Monday, September 7th. James Woodfin, 76 of Midland Texas, who was hunting in the area, was seriously injured when the mule he was riding on fell, landing on top of him.
Woodfin’s hunting partner reported that when he returned to camp near lunchtime, he found the mule there with the saddle inverted and then found Woodfin nearby. He was able to assist him into the tent and left on horseback to notify authorities. The fall occurred at approximately 7:30 in the morning and Woodfin reported it took him four hours to get back to camp.
CCSAR members were activated at 3:45pm and additional field support from Fremont County SAR was requested shortly after. Rescuers obtained access to the Rainbow Trail via the Spread Eagle Pines subdivision, from which they accessed the trailhead. The hunting camp was located 3.6 miles above the trailhead, in heavy timber. Flight for Life’s Lifeguard 3 was able to land 1.1 miles below camp and their medical team hiked to the patient for treatment.
Ground teams were used to litter carry the man down to the landing zone, where the air ambulance was able to transport Mr. Woodfin out of the area at 1:15 on Tuesday morning. He was transported to St. Mary Corwin hospital in Pueblo. All teams were back at the rescue barn by 3:30 am, when the mission concluded.
