Protective equipment key to survival for seriously injured motorcycle rider rescued from slot canyon

ST. GEORGE — A Washington police officer who spent 20 hours at the bottom of a slot canyon in the Warner Valley area after crashing his motorcycle had planned to meet up with friends, but ended up riding by himself.

Crews began searching for the missing Brad Coleman, 41, late Sunday and quickly spotted his pickup truck. From there, Washington County Sheriff's Sgt. Darrell Cushing sent rescue teams of two in several directions to ensure they were covering all possible routes the bike could have gone. He also said that search efforts were hampered by the lack of light, adding that teams were searching a vast, remote area in "complete and utter darkness. I mean it was pitch black."

Less than four hours later, at daybreak, the multi-agency search effort resumed and was expanded to more than 20 search and rescue members, two helicopters, several deputies, park rangers and many of the rider's family members and friends.

One of the Department of Public Safety flight officers hiked down the 20 feet to the canyon floor to check on the rider and was soon joined by a flight nurse and paramedic who made the trek to the bottom, leaving the Life Flight helicopter where it touched down on the landing.

The emergency flight crew found Coleman "extensively injured and suffering from acute hypothermia," Cashin said. "We kept hearing over the radio — 'He's cold. He's cold. He's cold.'"

Read the full article at St. George News.

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