CHP helicopter airlifts injured woman during Yosemite rescue

Yosemite National Park search-and-rescue personnel sheltered an injured hiker overnight until a California Highway Patrol helicopter could lift her to safety the next morning.

CHP Sgt. Jeff Andriese said that Sue Hopley, 63, of Palo Alto, was hiking the Nevada Falls trail on Jan. 2 when she slipped on an icy patch of granite and fell about 10 feet down onto more granite. Rescuers found her soon after, but she was too hurt to walk or be carried out.

A team member helped set up shelter for Hopley and stayed with her overnight until CHP Helicopter 40 could pick her up the following morning. She was taken to a Modesto hospital, where she was treated for a possible back fracture.

This story was originally published January 6, 2016 at 11:55 AM with the headline "CHP helicopter airlifts injured woman during Yosemite rescue."