Just before 9 a.m. Aug. 4, the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) communication center received a call from a man whose friend was injured in a paragliding accident on the south side of Mt. Si.

According to the KCSO report, the man, in his 30s, crashed several hundred yards below the summit. He shared his location with a friend, who relayed the information to the center.

The KCSO Search and Rescue team organized a rescue mission utilizing Guardian 2, their Air Support Unit — a UH-1H “Huey” helicopter — and hoisted the paraglider to safety at 11:12 a.m.

“The lift itself was completed in just a few minutes,” wrote KCSO Communications Manager Brandyn Hull.

Hull confirmed that the man suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to an un-named medical facility for evaluation and treatment.

Guardian 2 is the only full-time law enforcement aviation unit in Washington. Its primary duties range from homeland security to vehicle pursuits. It serves as a force multiplier for other law enforcement agencies in the state, according to the sheriff’s office.

“The helicopter’s excellent visibility and the ability to hover make it a very effective search and rescue vehicle,” according to King County’s website. “It can search large areas quickly, allowing ground searches to concentrate their efforts in other search areas.”

No further information on the paraglider rescue is available at this time.