Monitor man rescued after dirt bike medical emergency

WENATCHEE — A 42-year-old Monitor man was rescued from a steep hillside Saturday afternoon after experiencing a medical emergency while riding dirt bikes with his sons in the Tripp Canyon area.

Emergency responders were dispatched at about 3:06 p.m. March 7 after a 911 call reporting a medical issue involving a rider on a hillside.

According to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, the man had been riding with his sons when he became dizzy while helping his 14-year-old son reposition a dirt bike on the slope. The teen reported that his father briefly lost consciousness before regaining awareness and then called 911, providing dispatchers with directions to their location.

Responders determined the pair were about 300 feet up a steep hillside, creating difficult access conditions for emergency personnel. Medics evaluated the man at the scene and believed he was likely experiencing a heart-related medical issue.

Chelan County Sheriff’s Deputy McLeod requested assistance from regional rope rescue teams due to the terrain. Personnel from Wenatchee Valley Fire and the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office responded along with Ballard Ambulance and Cashmere Fire.

Rescuers used rope rescue equipment to lower the patient down the hillside. Once at the base, he was transported by utility terrain vehicle to a waiting ambulance and taken to Central Washington Hospital for further evaluation and treatment.