Categories:
Mission BriefsResourcesNovember 3, 2025
A couple from Salt Lake City were skiing the backcountry out of cellular service range in the mountains of northwestern British Columbia, Canada when the wife had a bad fall, twisting her right knee and ankle. Unable to continue, the couple’s skiing guide called for a helicopter field rescue, transporting the injured member to a nearby hospital where she was examined and diagnosed with a right ankle fracture and a meniscal tear in her knee. The Global Rescue medical operations team concurred with the treating physician’s recommendation for the member to fly home as soon as possible for an immediate orthopedic consultation. Global Rescue provided for wheelchair assistance at the airport and an airplane seating upgrade to keep her leg elevated. The member and her husband arrived home safely.
Categories:
Mission BriefsResourcesNovember 3, 2025
A member from Florida suffering symptoms of Altitude Mountain Sickness (AMS) needed a helicopter rescue from Dingboche (14,470 ft/4,410 m), a popular stop for trekkers and climbers headed to Mount Everest, Ama Dablam or Imja Tse. The expedition leader contacted Global Rescue operations reporting the member’s oxygen saturation level was 53% — well below the normal range of 95% to 100%. Supplemental oxygen elevated the member’s level to 83% but she remained weak and experienced continued difficulty breathing. The Global Rescue operations team initiated an airborne rescue and transport of the member to a nearby hospital. The hospital’s treating physician confirmed an AMS diagnosis and provided supplemental oxygen and a dexamethasone tab. Feeling better, the member traveled to Kathmandu for further medical evaluation and reported feeling stable.
Categories:
Mission BriefsResourcesNovember 3, 2025
An Australian couple was vacationing in Port Vila in The Republic of Vanuatu, an island country located in the South Pacific Ocean when a category four cyclone struck with sustained winds of 158–198 kph/98-123 mph and gusts up to 280 kph/175 mph. The destructive winds caused damage and the husband sustained a serious injury to his hand from a broken window. A local physician examined the member and diagnosed him with two severed tendons on his right hand and recommended immediate surgery. Unfortunately, the local medical facility could not perform the required surgery. Global Rescue was contacted, and the medical operations team concurred the need for prompt surgery. The couple flew to Brisbane, Australia where the husband was admitted and underwent successful surgery. He was discharged from the hospital with a fit-to-fly letter. The Global Rescue operations team arranged a medical evacuation for the recovering member from Brisbane to Sydney, Australia. The couple arrived home safely.
Categories:
Mission BriefsResourcesNovember 3, 2025
A U.S. member suffered a dislocated shoulder following an accident while skiing in Visp, Switzerland. She contacted Global Rescue and we airlifted her via helicopter for emergency treatment to a nearby hospital. The member remained in Zermatt to continue her recovery. The Global Rescue medical operations team physician reviewed her case and determined she would need assistance for her return trip. The Global Rescue operations team provided ground transportation for her from Newark International Airport to her home in New York where she arrived safely.
Categories:
Mission BriefsResourcesNovember 3, 2025
While recovering from a head injury after a rock fell on her, a member from Germany contacted Global Rescue operations for help. The member was trekking to Namche Bazaar in Nepal when the large stone struck her, knocking her unconscious. We evacuated her by a helicopter and she was admitted to the hospital where she was diagnosed with a concussion and treated for a two-and-a-half inch (6cm) laceration on the right side of her head. The member remained in the hospital for several days to recover before she was discharged and cleared fit to fly home in business class. As part of her membership services, Global Rescue’s medical team of physicians reviewed the case and concurred with the recommendation for business class to allow for repositioning for comfort, minimizing dizziness and nausea, and other concussion symptoms that might occur in flight. The member arrived at her home in Dusseldorf safely and without incident.
Categories:
Mission BriefsResourcesNovember 3, 2025
A member from Puerto Rico was thrown from the back of a moving vehicle after driving over a large roadway hole in Kenya. The woman landed on her hip and head with sufficient force to lose consciousness. Upon examination on the scene, she was initially unresponsive but when she regained consciousness, she complained of hip pain, was unable to move without pain while lying down, and could not stand or bear any weight. While there were no open wounds or bleeding, medical professionals expressed concern via video chat about a head injury, a fractured femur or pelvic injury. Global Rescue initiated a field rescue and medical evacuation from the member’s remote location in Kenya to a hospital in Tanzania, an adjacent country to the south. At the hospital, it was determined that the member suffered a fractured femur requiring immediate surgery. Fortunately, images of her spine and head were normal. The member’s surgery was followed up with physiotherapy to assist her in ambulating using a walker. After discharge from the hospital, Global Rescue provided a medical escort for the member to her home of record.
Categories:
Mission BriefsResourcesNovember 3, 2025
A Japanese member suffering from snow blindness and facial sunburn on Mount Aconcagua was unable to see. Medical professionals on scene diagnosed the member with bilateral conjunctivitis and a 2nd-degree face burn caused by not wearing solar protection gear. Global Rescue Operations initiated an airborne field rescue and ground transport to a hospital in Mendoza. The member was safely evacuated from the mountain, treated and released with medications from the hospital.
Categories:
Mission BriefsResourcesNovember 3, 2025
A Miami member became ill with pneumonia and possible arrhythmia during a cruise around French Polynesia. The ship’s medical team started treatment for him, activated French Polynesia Emergency Services and transported him to a hospital in Morrea for further evaluation. The hospital’s medical team determined the member’s symptoms warranted transport to a higher level of care in Papeete, French Polynesia. Following his transport to the hospital in Papeete, the emergency department medical team admitted the member to the intensive care unit for assessment, testing, and intervention. Meanwhile, the member’s oxygen consumption was too high for a trans-Pacific flight home and recovery was not progressing. Global Rescue deployed a medical operations specialist to oversee the member’s care and be his medical escort once deemed fit-to-fly. Eventually, the member’s recovery progressed sufficiently that he was stable for flight. Global Rescue initiated an immediate, and successful, transport via commercial stretcher and dedicated air ambulance of the member for continued care at a higher-level facility in Miami.
Categories:
Mission BriefsResourcesNovember 3, 2025
High climbs are not easy. Twisted ankles, high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), gastrointestinal trouble, high altitude cerebral edema (HACE), snow blindness and many other ailments, like frostbite, challenge climbers at every step, uphill and down. A U.S. member developed first-degree frostbite in his toes while on Mount Aconcagua. Global Rescue provided an immediate helicopter field rescue off the mountain and ground transportation to a hospital in Mendoza. The member was successfully evacuated, evaluated at the medical center, given medication and discharged the same day.
Categories:
Mission BriefsResourcesNovember 3, 2025
A U.S. member paragliding in Colombia contacted Global Rescue following an accident injured his arm. After landing, a broken branch fell on his left wrist quickly causing his fingers to swell and become discolored with an on-and-off tingling sensation. He applied a bandage and ice compress overnight in his hotel with no relief. The next day he went to the hospital for imaging. A Global Rescue medical team reviewed the case and determined a surgical intervention could be necessary and recommended that the member have an in-person evaluation with an orthopedic doctor. Global Rescue helped the member secure a flight to his Washington state home of record where he proceeded to the hospital for further evaluation.
Categories:
Mission BriefsResourcesNovember 3, 2025
A Romanian member fell during an expedition on Aconcagua in Argentina sustaining cervical and pelvic injuries. Global Rescue was contacted and an immediate helicopter field rescue and medical evacuation was initiated to bring him to a hospital in nearby Mendoza. Upon examination, it was determined that the member sustained a wrist fracture and a contusion. Following treatment, the member returned to his home of residence in Tunari.