Idaho man revived after going into cardiac arrest/Kurt Repanshek file photo

Little more than a week after Grand Teton National Park rangers were called upon to rescue a backcountry skier, they were summoned again to save the life of another skier in the park. This time, however, it took a defibrillator to shock the man's heart back to life.

The successful rescue took place Friday evening after the Teton Interagency Dispatch center received a call around 3 p.m. about a skier who was having significant chest pains. The reporting party, located on the Southwest Ridge of Maverick Peak in the park, had a cell phone and was able to provide GPS coordinates. The skier, Mike Connolly, 61, from Idaho Falls, Idaho, was skiing with three other family members and friends when the incident occurred.

Park rangers requested the Teton County Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue helicopter. The helicopter hauled three county search-and-rescue members to the general area where Mr. Connolly was. After a quick aerial reconnaissance, the whirlybird landed to set up for for a short-haul operation. A park ranger and county member with basic life support equipment were carried to the stricken skier's location via short-haul, a procedure in which the two were suspended below the helicopter on a 150- to 200-foot rope.

According to park reports, Mr. Connolly went into cardiac arrest while rescuers were flying to the scene, and as the rescuers arrived, CPR efforts were in progress by the other members of the party. The man had no pulse, and was not breathing. Rescue personnel used an automated defibrillator to shock Mr. Connolly one time, and that got his heart beating again and he resumed breathing. A short time later he was able to verbally communicate to those around him.

As resuscitation efforts were being conducted, the helicopter short-hauled additional search and rescue personnel and medical supplies, and a litter to the scene. Search and rescue personnel loaded Mr. Connolly onto the litter to be flown via short-haul to the Portneuf Medical Center Air Ambulance that was located near the north end of the Moose-Wilson Road. He then was transported to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

A family member, search and rescue members, supplies and equipment all were short-hauled from the scene. A park ranger skied with the remaining members of the skiing party and safely returned to a trailhead parking area along the Moose-Wilson Road.

"The persistent training and teamwork with the Teton County Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue Team helped to obtain the outcome that we always strive to achieve during these incidents," said Grand Teton Superintendent David Vela. "As a result of this well-orchestrated effort, our skier has a very hopeful second chance in life."

Back on February 22 rangers were called to help a skier who spent two nights in the backcountry get safely down the mountain.