Air Ambulance Crew Reunites with Utah Toddler They Saved in Uruguay | Aviation International News

Air Ambulance Crew Reunites with Toddler They Rescued

Crew flew 6,300 miles to retrieve her in January

A toddler patient on a bed in a medevac business jet, with a woman and baby visiting with her and smiling — © Image courtesy Intermountain Health

By Amy Wilder • Writer

July 30, 2026

A Utah toddler who nearly died from multi-organ failure while visiting family in Uruguay has reunited with the Intermountain Health Bombardier Challenger 604 flight crew that flew more than 6,300 miles to retrieve her in January. Estelle Santiago, now four, is on track for a full recovery—an outcome her parents say they did not believe was possible at the height of her illness.

Estelle Santiago had been diagnosed with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome while her family was visiting Uruguay. By the time she reached a hospital in Montevideo, she was seizing and had progressed into renal, respiratory, and cardiac failure. Her family contacted Intermountain Health, which activated its flight and ambulance team in Salt Lake City.

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