Topic: Astronaut Jeff Ashby injured in mountain fall
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44468 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-18-2019 09:19 PM
Retired NASA astronaut Jeffrey Ashby was severely injured on Monday (July 15) after falling 500 feet near the summit of Colorado's La Plata Peak, reports the Colorado Springs Gazette, citing the Chaffee County Sheriff's Office.
Nearby hikers heard Ashby screaming for help and contacted authorities. Search and rescue teams scoured the area for several hours before noticing a light flashing below the 14,360-foot summit. Unable to reach Ashby because of steep, technical terrain, Flight for Life was called in to assist with identifying his exact location.
After Ashby was located on a snowfield, a second helicopter dropped in a search and rescue team member near the summit. That person hiked down the steep terrain to reach and stabilize Ashby at approximately 3 a.m. Tuesday.
A helicopter from the Air National Guard High Altitude Training Center was used to carry Ashby from the mountain at approximately 7:30 a.m. Tuesday. He then was transferred to Summit Medical Center by a Flight For Life copter and treated for possible fractures.
Jurg Bolli Member
Posts: 1024 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Nov 2000
posted 07-18-2019 10:26 PM
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
randy Member
Posts: 2283 From: West Jordan, Utah USA Registered: Dec 1999
posted 07-19-2019 08:30 AM
Echoing Jurgs sentiment, here's wishing for a speedy recovery.
astro-nut Member
Posts: 990 From: Washington, IL Registered: Jan 2006
posted 07-28-2019 02:49 PM
Speedy recovery to Jeff Ashby! Get well soon!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 44468 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-15-2020 09:07 PM
It has been more than a year since Ashby's accident. I missed it at the time, but a cS member pointed out this October 2019 video from the Colorado National Guard describing the aftermath and Ashby's recovery.
The Colorado National Guard caught up with Navy Captain (Ret.) Jeff Ashby, a hiker who was rescued by the Colorado National Guard from La Plata Peak during the Summer of 2019.
posted 07-18-2019 09:19 PM
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