Sheriff Lt. Jack W. Ewell sent us the following press release and pictures from yesterday's rescue:
Altadena Sheriff’s Station received information from Los Angeles Police Department
personnel about a lone hiker stranded on a ledge in the Chaney Trail-Mount Lowe area of the Angeles
National Forest. The hiker slipped off of a freshly-cut trail and fell 100 feet down the side of a cliff
face, injuring his right leg during the descent. He landed in a dangerously precarious position and was
unable to maneuver out of it. His cell phone only had intermittent coverage, but he was able to dial
911 and relayed his location to LAPD personnel.
(Pictured: rescuer and hiker being airlifted into Sheriff Air 5 copter)
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department personnel from the Altadena and Montrose Search and Rescue Teams, the Special Enforcement Bureau/Emergency Services Detail, and Aero Bureau responded to the area and searched for the injured hiker. Approximately two hours later, the hiker used his cell phone to tell police he could see a Sheriff’s helicopter in the area above him. Personnel in the Air 8 helicopter located him on a rugged cliff area in Eaton Canyon; the Air Rescue 5 helicopter lowered a Sheriff’s Department paramedic to triage the hiker.
During triage, the paramedic discovered
the hiker had fashioned an improvised splinting-device out of a hammer and boot laces, to secure his
injured leg.
The hiker was hoisted into the Air Rescue 5 helicopter, treated for his leg injury and abrasions, and
airlifted to a local hospital for further treatment.
