Archive image: An UH-60L Black Hawk aircrew from the 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion of the Tennessee National Guard conducts a casualty hoist exercise as part of the SAREX 23 in Pickett State Park near Jamestown, TN.
U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Ben Cash.
Story by Lt. Col. Darrin Haas , Tennessee National Guard
A Tennessee Army National Guard UH-60L Black Hawk aircrew with the 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion conducted the rescue of a park visitor suffering from cardiac arrest in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Wednesday afternoon, April 1, 2026.
Shortly after 2:40 p.m., Eastern time, the Tennessee Army National Guard and the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) were notified of apark visitor having a medical emergency in need of immediate assistance and rapid transport to a nearby hospital. The visitor was located near Dillons Gap along Kuwohi Road, which parallels the Appalachian Trail, in a remote area of the park southeast of Gatlinburg, along the North Carolina border.
Once TEMA was notified of the possible mission, Tennessee National Guardsmen assigned to Task Force Smokey assembled a flight crew and readied a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter for flight. As soon as the mission was approved, the rescue helicopter aircrew departed Joint Base McGhee-Tyson at approximately 3:10 p.m., flying directly to the rescue site.
In roughly 15 minutes, the UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter arrived at Dillons Gap and the Tennessee Army National Guard rescue aircrew, which consisted of two pilots, Chief Warrant Officer Brian Spotts and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andres Salas, the crew chief, Sgt.Gabriel Weston, and two flight paramedics, Sgt. 1st Class Giovanni DeZuani and John Sharbel, began rescue operations.
Once the patient and rescue personnel were located, the UH-60L Black Hawk aircrew landed at the Dillons Gap parking lot along Kuwohi Road. Both flight paramedics exited the aircraft, and with the help of local Emergency Medical Services (EMS), transferred the patient from the EMS ambulance currently caring for the patient to the helicopter. Once transferred and the patient was safe on board, the UH-60L Black Hawk flew to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville while first aid continued throughout the flight.
At approximately 3:55 p.m., the Tennessee National Guard UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter aircrew landed at the medical center where medical personnel rushed the patient into the emergency room. Once the patient was safely in the care of medical professionals, the rescue helicopter aircrew returned to Louisville and landed just after 4:20 p.m.
For more Hlcopters Magazine breaking news, stories, images and videos visit hlcopters.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
