Black Hawk Helicopter Rescues Hiker with Severe Altitude Sickness from Mount Nanhu

A dramatic rescue unfolded on Taiwan's Mount Nanhu as a 30-year-old hiker battled severe altitude sickness. The man, identified by the surname Zeng, experienced debilitating weakness and difficulty breathing during a trek with a four-person group. His condition, suspected to be high-altitude pulmonary edema, posed a significant risk.

Following an alert received Tuesday evening, the Hualien County Fire Department dispatched ground search and rescue teams into the mountains overnight. Recognizing the urgency and the challenging terrain, air support was requested early Wednesday morning. The National Airborne Service Corps responded with a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter.

The helicopter crew, navigating strong winds at an altitude of 12,000 feet, precisely landed at a mountain hut on Mount Nanhu. Rescue team members quickly assisted the weakened Zeng onto the aircraft. The helicopter then flew back to Hualien, landing at Dexing Baseball Field by 7:38 a.m., where Zeng was transferred to an ambulance for immediate transport to Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital.

Adding a brief, unusual interlude to the mission, the rescue helicopter had to wait on the ground after dropping off the patient. This delay was necessary to accommodate emergency takeoffs by military fighter jets conducting training exercises, highlighting the complexities of coordinating air operations in shared airspace.