Mail Tribune News - Rescuer from Medford

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Rescuer from Medford The Associated Press ANCHORAGE -- A former Medford man flew the helicopter that rescued the co-host of a nationally syndicated hunting show from a remote area west of Anchorage last week. Rick Young, 41, a Boring resident who co-hosts "Northwest Hunter," was cutting the hide from a moose Thursday when the 4-inch blade on his knife slipped and stabbed deeply into his thigh, nearly severing his femoral artery. Young and hunting partner Steve Karcz had filmed a caribou hunt and were wrapping up with a recreational outing before flying home. When the accident occurred, Karcz put a tourniquet on Young's wound and guided an Air National Guard helicopter in with his emergency locator beacon. Pilot Scot Milani, who grew up in Medford, said he and co-pilot Tom Bolin hovered up the mountain 10 to 15 feet above the ground. They picked up Karcz and followed the hunters' footprints and trail markers to the site of the kill. Young was loaded into a basket and airlifted to Anchorage. Young underwent three hours of surgery at Providence Alaska Medical Center and was expected to be released as early as Saturday. Mail Tribune Copyright �  The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA