Garden of the Gods
Saline County — Another person was reportedly injured today at the Garden of the Gods in Saline County.
Saline County Central Dispatch reportedly received a call at 10:32 AM this morning, reporting that a man had fallen near the Devil’s Smokestack. Saline County deputies and Equality Fire Department were then dispatched to the scene.
First responders found that Hines Basse, 50, of Laatzen, Germany, fell approximately 15 feet to a ledge. Basse sustained injuries to his ankle, knee, and leg.
The rescue process took approximately 3 hours to complete. Basse was flown from the scene by Lifeflight helicopter to St. Mary’s Hospital in Evansville, Indiana.
Saline County Sheriff Keith Brown reminds hikers to wear appropriate clothing and footwear, and to exercise caution. “It takes several minutes for law enforcement and rescue to arrive to the park when someone falls and it takes even longer to get an injured person to a medical facility, so we urge caution when out on the rock formations,” said Brown.