Nine-Hour Wilderness Rescue Saves Lightning-Strike Patient in Remote New Mexico Backcountry

Deep in the Pecos Wilderness, hunter Wyatt Parker was struck by lightning. Immediate medical attention was needed, but help was hours away. Reaching the patient would require more than an ambulance response.

With only GPS coordinates sent through a satellite text service and no direct road access, AMR Paramedic Maison Hooten and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Forrest Tracey had to rely on their knowledge of the area to determine where to begin their search. After selecting the Iron Gate trailhead as the best strategic starting point, the pair packed their medical equipment, picked up a Stokes basket- a specialized rescue stretcher- and set off to find their patient in the remote area.

“Most of us hike these trails in our downtime, so we knew navigating one loaded down with our equipment was going to be challenging,” said Tracey. “But as a first responder, you know someone really needs you on the other side of that challenge, and that is the motivation that keeps you going when fatigue sets in. You don’t want to let anyone down.”

After a two-and-a-half-hour uphill climb across rugged terrain and in darkness, Hooten and Tracey arrived on scene where a new challenge would present itself. Parker was awake and alert, and unable to move due to injuries sustained from the strike. When a person is struck by lightning, massive electrical currents, extreme heat, and explosive pressure waves interact with the body for a fraction of a second. This means there could be major complications internally, and extra attention and assessment is necessary.

The pair learned Parker's hunting companion had performed lifesaving CPR prior to the team’s arrival, and the strike left marks on his clothing. These details informed Hooten and Tracey on the next steps as they assessed his injuries. Prior to evacuation off the mountain, Parker required cardiac monitoring through an EKG, as well as airway and oxygen management.

Once stabilized, the team cautiously loaded Parker into the Stokes basket, where they would have to hike and carry him down the same rugged trail back to the ambulance for transport to a hospital.

“A Stokes basket is equipped with a wheel in the middle, so it’s a balancing act when utilizing one to carry a patient,” said Hooten. “You are trying to be as gentle as possible while navigating loose rocks and uneven ground.”

The entire mission from dispatch to transport took nine hours. While Hooten and Tracey see it as simply doing the job they love, the rescue reflects the resilience, teamwork, and commitment they bring to every shift. Their quick thinking and coordinated response provided critical medical care, helping bridge the gap between a life-threatening emergency and definitive treatment.

For their leadership during the response and their commitment to providing care under extraordinary conditions, Hooten and Tracey have been selected as 2026 Stars of Life honorees by the American Ambulance Association. The Stars of Life program is one of the EMS profession’s highest honors, recognizing EMS professionals who have demonstrated extraordinary service, leadership and commitment to patient care.

Their recognition reflects an often-overlooked element of rural emergency medicine: clinicians must sometimes overcome distance, terrain and limited information before they can provide emergency medical care. As for the patient, the work of Hooten and Tracey turned a moment of crisis into a second chance. Following discharge from the hospital, the hunters returned to their camp and resumed their hunting trip, ultimately harvesting an elk before heading home.