Animator's Mountain Rescue
Oscar-winning Disney Animator, 72, Airlifted from Mummy Mountain After Dizziness
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Key Points
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Mummy Mountain sits in Paradise Valley between Phoenix and Scottsdale, near Tatum Boulevard and Lincoln Drive, and the summit reaches about 2,260 feet in elevation.
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Keane had started the hike with his grandchildren around 6 a.m., and firefighters were alerted about two hours later, around 8 a.m., highlighting the hot, early-morning conditions.
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Rescue operations used a steep rope-angle system to hoist Keane off the ridge, with him airlifted to a safe landing area by a Phoenix Fire Department helicopter.
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Keane currently resides in Paris and has a long Disney animation career, including work on The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Tarzan, Tangled, and the 2018 Oscar-winning Dear Basketball.
Oscar-winning Disney animator Glen Keane, 72, was airlifted from the top of Mummy Mountain in Paradise Valley, Arizona on Wednesday after becoming dizzy during a morning hike with his grandchildren, according to The Independent. Phoenix Fire Department crews used a rope-and-helicopter system to hoist him off the narrow ridge and transport him to safety. He did not require hospital care.
Keane, best known for animating beloved Disney characters across decades of classic films, called the rescue 'a blessing.' He praised the crew for being willing to risk their own safety on the edge of the ledge, Wide Open Spaces reported.
Early Morning Hike Turns Into Mountain Rescue
Keane and his grandchildren started their hike around 6 a.m. About two hours later, around 8 a.m., he realized he could not go any further. Phoenix firefighters were alerted and responded to the summit of Mummy Mountain, which sits at roughly 2,260 feet in elevation near Tatum Boulevard and Lincoln Drive, Daily Dispatch reported.
Fire officials said temperatures were already near 90 degrees that morning. The mountain's narrow terrain made a ground evacuation impossible. Crews deployed a steep-angle rope system and used a helicopter to hoist Keane off the ridge. He was flown to a safe landing area and checked by medics on the scene, according to KYMA.
Phoenix Fire Officials Warn About Extreme Heat Risks
Fire officials used the incident as a warning to other hikers. They urged people to assess the risks before heading out in 90-degree heat. The combination of steep terrain, narrow ridges, and high temperatures makes rescues like this especially dangerous for both hikers and first responders, The Independent noted.
The Phoenix area has seen repeated hiking emergencies during hot weather. Starting a hike at 6 a.m. is considered early, but temperatures can still climb fast. Officials stressed that even experienced hikers should know their limits before reaching a point where they cannot safely descend on their own.
Glen Keane's Long Career Behind Disney's Biggest Characters
Keane spent decades at Disney animating some of the studio's most iconic characters. He drew Ariel in The Little Mermaid, the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, and Tarzan. He also directed Tangled before leaving the studio, according to Yahoo.
In 2018, he won an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for Dear Basketball, a tribute to NBA legend Kobe Bryant. Keane currently lives in Paris. Despite the scare on Mummy Mountain, he was not seriously hurt and expressed deep gratitude for the firefighters who reached him at the summit, Wide Open Spaces reported.
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