The Tennessee Army National Guard rescued two hikers who experienced medical emergencies around Great Smoky Mountains National Park, according to a service news release.

The medical emergencies occurred May 31 just hours apart, and the Guard successfully evacuated both victims to a hospital.

In the early afternoon, the Guard and Tennessee Emergency Management Agency received word that a hiker was suffering from a respiratory emergency in a remote area of the national park southeast of Gatlinburg. A five-person flight crew quickly loaded into a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and left Joint Base McGhee-Tyson in Knoxville en route to the hiker.  

Flight paramedics lowered to the ground to assess the situation and deliver first aid. The hiker and his wife were hoisted into the helicopter and flown to the University of Tennessee medical center in Knoxville for treatment. 

A few hours after returning to base, they received a call of another hiker experiencing a medical emergency. 

The crew once again departed the air base. This time a hiker was suffering from potential cardiac arrest. The paramedics lowered to the ground, delivered first aid and helped to hoist the victim into the helicopter for transit to a hospital. The hiker arrived at the emergency room less than an hour after the rescue operation began.

The flight crew consisted of two pilots Maj. Hulon Holmes and chief warrant officer Luke Hargrove, crew chief Sgt. Daniel Bandy, and flight paramedics Sgt. 1st Class Nolan Ogle and Sgt. 1st Class Giovanni Dezuani.