MT: Crews use rope system to rescue injured hiker

By ANGELA BRANDT     photo source: Lewis and Clark County Seriff's Office

Authorities from many agencies worked together Sunday evening to help a Helena woman who broke her ankle while fishing near Hauser Dam.

While her husband walked a half-hour in order to gain cellphone service to call 911, Sheri Onstott, 41, was taken care of by a member of Lewis and Clark Search and Rescue who just happened to be in the area at the time.

Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton said the 911 call came in at 3:22 p.m.

Search and rescue crews were then officially dispatched, along with TriLake Volunteer Fire Department and St. Peter’s Ambulance. State Fish, Wildlife and Parks officers assisted alongside Bureau of Land Management employees.

Onstott was in unstable and very rocky terrain, according to Dutton. Crews used a rope system to lift her over an embankment.

Once she was uphill, Onstott was taken to an ambulance and was transported to St. Peter’s Hospital at about 6:30 p.m.