Fact Check: One of the men struck by lightning was flown to a Denver hospital with a burn unit after being rescued by a Colorado National Guard Blackhawk helicopter at an altitude of 14,200 feet.

Fact Check: "One of the men struck by lightning was flown to a Denver hospital with a burn unit after being rescued by a Colorado National Guard Blackhawk helicopter at an altitude of 14,200 feet."

What We Know

On a recent hiking trip, two men from New York were struck by lightning while attempting to summit Torreys Peak, a 14,300-foot mountain in Colorado. The incident occurred after they had called for help due to getting off course during their ascent. After being struck, one of the men became nonresponsive and was in critical condition. Approximately 30 rescuers were dispatched to the scene, and a Colorado National Guard Blackhawk helicopter was utilized to airlift the more seriously injured man from an altitude of 14,200 feet. He was subsequently transported to a local hospital and later transferred to a Denver hospital equipped with a burn unit, where he remains in fair condition (Denver7, ABC News, New York Post).

Analysis

The claim that one of the men was flown to a Denver hospital with a burn unit after being rescued by a Blackhawk helicopter at an altitude of 14,200 feet is substantiated by multiple credible sources. Reports consistently indicate that the helicopter rescue was conducted at this altitude, which is believed to be a record for helicopter rescues in Colorado. The use of the helicopter was necessary due to the critical condition of one of the hikers, who was nonresponsive after the lightning strike (Denver7, ABC News, New York Post).

The reliability of the sources is high, as they include major news outlets such as ABC News and Denver7, which are known for their journalistic integrity and fact-checking standards. The information provided is consistent across these reports, reinforcing the accuracy of the claim.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that one of the men struck by lightning was flown to a Denver hospital with a burn unit after being rescued by a Colorado National Guard Blackhawk helicopter at an altitude of 14,200 feet is accurate. The details of the rescue, including the altitude and the subsequent medical treatment, are corroborated by multiple reliable news sources.

Sources

1. Men hit by lightning plucked from mountain in Colorado ...
2. Men hit by lightning plucked from mountain in a record-high ...
3. 2 New Yorkers struck by lightning while hiking on Colorado ...
4. Two men rushed to hospital after being struck by lightning ...
5. Two New Yorkers Rescued After Lightning Strike on ...
6. Men hit by lightning plucked from mountain in record-high ...
7. Men hit by lightning plucked from mountain in record-high ...
8. Men hit by lightning plucked from mountain in record-high ...