Hiker who was spun around during viral helicopter rescue 'thought she was going to die'

2025-04-28 10:50:43admin

Remember that dramatic spinning helicopter rescue? Well, it turns out it was as terrifying as it looked.

Katalin Metro, the poor hiker who was spun around uncontrollably while she was being rescued, "thought she was going to die" during the incident, according to her husband.

Metro's ordeal became national news last week when video of her being lifted up to a helicopter from Piestewa Peak in Phoenix, Arizona went viral.

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Speaking to KPNX 12 News in Phoenix, Metro's husband, George, detailed exactly what happened.

During their hike, Metro says his wife tripped and fell face first onto a rock, breaking her nose and sustaining other injuries, including to her left hand and leg. Because they didn't want to exacerbate her injuries, rescue crews decided to airlift her from Piestewa Peak.

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Metro was secured in the rescue basket and was being lifted into the air when the spinning began, reportedly because the cable that was supposed to prevent such spinning broke.

George says his wife did breathing exercises that helped prevent her from passing out while she dangled from the helicopter, spinning rapidly.

As of Friday afternoon, when George was interviewed, Katalin was still "very dizzy and nauseous" from the ordeal, and that has prevented her from getting out of bed and from being able to therapy on her leg.

George said that "blood was going to her head and eyeballs," as she spun. He added that she has yet to see the videos of her rescue and that he'll make sure she doesn't until she's healed a bit more.

All that said, there were no broken bones and she's expected to continue heal as she recovers from both the fall and the difficult rescue.

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