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Man dies, woman injured in falls during storm on South Boulder Peak

Sheriff's Office: Man fell and suffered head injury while trying to help hiking partner
Posted at 6:35 PM, Jun 25, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-25 20:36:14-04

BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. – A 23-year-old man died and a 19-year-old woman was seriously injured after falling on South Boulder Peak during a storm on Wednesday evening, the county sheriff’s office said Thursday.

The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office said they were dispatched about the two stranded hikers around 7 p.m. Wednesday, as thunderstorms moved through the area.

The 19-year-old woman had slipped on the rocks near the summit of the peak and suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, the sheriff’s office said. When her hiking partner, the 23-year-old man, tried to help her, he fell 30 feet and suffered a severe head injury, according to the sheriff’s office.

Search and rescue crews hiked in and were brought in with a Flight for Life Colorado helicopter. Litter rescues were performed for both injured parties, starting with the man. He was flown to an area hospital, after which the helicopter returned and took the woman to a hospital as well.

But the man died at the hospital because of the injuries he sustained during the fall, the sheriff’s office said.

The operation took about 10 hours, according to the sheriff’s office.