By Alyson Zepeda
The Arizona Republic

Photo courtesy of Arizona Dept. of Public Safety Bruce Harrolle

SEDONA — A medic for the Department of Public Safety was killed during a mountain rescue in Sedona on Monday afternoon.

A DPS helicopter team was called to Bear Mountain in the Bell Rock area to rescue two stranded hikers about 4 p.m.

One of the hikers had already gotten aboard the helicopter.

DPS Medic Bruce Harrolle, 36,of Mesa was escorting the second patient into the chopper when he was struck by one of the helicopter's rotor blades and fatally injured.

Both hikers were flown to safety.

Investigators from the department and the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office have begun conducting an investigation into Harrolle's death.

Harrolle is a nine-year veteran with DPS and he leaves behind a wife and two young children. He was based out of Flagstaff.