Helicopter crew recounts smooth but complex rescue after Lindsey Vonn's crash
NBC Olympics • • sports
Key Points:
- The helicopter crew conducting Lindsey Vonn's evacuation from the Olimpia delle Tofane piste described the rescue as technically challenging but smoothly executed under clear skies during the Olympic downhill event.
- The team, including pilot Roberto Cit and winch technician Annalisa Raffin, coordinated a prolonged winching maneuver at significant height to safely extract Vonn, who was secured in a winch stretcher to protect her from rotor wind and cold.
- The crew operates with only coded severity information and relies heavily on training and teamwork to perform under pressure, ensuring calm and efficient rescue operations during major events.
- After Vonn's evacuation, a second air ambulance was deployed for Andorra's Cande Moreno, who crashed later in the race, highlighting