Multi-Agency Rescue of Injured Hiker Near Diamond Lake

Boulder County, Colo. - On October 31, 2026, at approximately 4:18 p.m., the Boulder County Sheriff's Office and multiple rescue agencies responded to a report of an injured hiker in the Diamond Lake area west of Nederland.

The patient, a 38-year-old male who was hiking alone, reportedly sustained a fall resulting in multiple injuries, including suspected fractures to his lower extremities. The hiker was conscious and able to communicate with dispatchers, who assisted in determining his location.

Due to the remote location and extremely steep, technical terrain, rescuers determined that a helicopter extraction would provide the safest means of evacuating the patient. Rocky Mountain Rescue Group and Nederland Fire Protection District deployed ground rescue teams while aviation resources conducted reconnaissance and assisted with rescue planning.

The operation involved extensive coordination between local rescue agencies, Colorado Search and Rescue, and Colorado National Guard aviation personnel. During an initial rescue attempt, a Colorado National Guard helicopter experienced an incident that required a precautionary landing near the Fourth of July Trailhead at Buckingham Park. The aircraft remains in the area, and the Fourth of July Trailhead and surrounding area will be closed to the public while crews conduct aircraft recovery operations. The public is asked to avoid the area and respect all closures to allow personnel to work safely.

Additional aviation resources were requested to complete the rescue. At approximately 12:21 a.m. on November 1, a Colorado National Guard Lakota helicopter successfully hoisted the patient from the mountainside and transported him to a landing zone at Nederland High School. The patient was transferred to an American Medical Response ambulance and transported to a local hospital in Boulder for further medical evaluation and treatment.

The rescue required more than eight hours of coordinated operations involving ground rescue teams, aviation personnel, and incident command staff. The challenging terrain, darkness, and complexity of the extraction required significant planning and coordination to safely reach and evacuate the injured hiker.

Agencies assisting with the rescue included the Boulder County Sheriff's Office, Rocky Mountain Rescue Group, Nederland Fire Protection District, Colorado Search and Rescue, Colorado National Guard (both helicopters are based out of the Army Aviation support facility located at Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora, Colorado) , Med Evac, and American Medical Response.

The photograph included with this release provides an aerial view of the Diamond Lake area where the technical rescue operation took place. Photo courtesy of Med Evac personnel.

The case is documented under case number 26-05239.

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/s/ V. Montez,

Public Information Officer