Rock climber falls 30 feet from cliff, prompting extraordinary rescue, NM video shows

A Saturday morning climb nearly ended in tragedy when a New Mexico woman fell off a cliff in the Sandia Mountains, officials said.

It was Aug. 3 when the 37-year-old rock climber lost her footing, officials told KOB. She landed 30 feet down, injured but still alive, according to KOB and the Albuquerque Journal.

A multi-agency wilderness rescue began — 10 New Mexico rescue agencies to be exact.

Around 11:44 a.m., rescuers found her. The team quickly confirmed that she was severely injured and arranged for an air medical evacuation, officials said.

What happened next was captured in a remarkable video released by Albuquerque Fire Rescue. In the footage, a panoramic mountain scene approaches a black helicopter hovering above the towering rocky ridges and piñon trees.

Two people are being hoisted into the helicopter — one is a rescuer, one is the climber in a rescue basket. The helicopter crew pulls them in slowly.

The dizzying sight of the tiny duo against the vast backdrop being lifted hundreds of feet through the air is made even more vertigo-inducing as the helicopter begins to move forward before the two are fully inside. This is normal, and the duo make it into the aircraft and on their way to the hospital.

The climber was flown to the University of New Mexico Hospital emergency room in Albuquerque for treatment.

This story was originally published August 7, 2024 at 12:15 PM with the headline "Rock climber falls 30 feet from cliff, prompting extraordinary rescue, NM video shows."