A hiker injured deep in Northern California’s Sinkyone Wilderness State Park was airlifted to safety Saturday after a coordinated rescue involving eight emergency agencies and a helicopter hoist operation, according to a press release from the Shelter Cove Fire Department.
The man fell roughly 10 feet after losing his footing on a marked trail about one mile north of Jones Creek, near the Mendocino-Humboldt County line, officials said. The fall, triggered by loose rock, left the hiker with a suspected broken leg and stranded in steep, rugged terrain, according to Shelter Cove Fire.
Sinkyone Wilderness State Park is a remote stretch of coastline in southern Humboldt and northern Mendocino counties, known for its steep cliffs, dense redwood forests, and limited access. It’s part of the Lost Coast, one of California’s most undeveloped and difficult-to-reach coastal regions, where trails often require multi-day hikes and rescues are challenging due to the isolation.
At approximately 2:28 p.m. on May 24, Shelter Cove Fire responded to a mutual aid request and quickly determined a helicopter with hoist-rescue capabilities would be necessary due to the location and severity of the injuries. CAL FIRE Copter 603—a specially equipped Fire Hawk helicopter out of the Howard Forest Helitack Base in Willits—was dispatched, Shelter Cove Fire said.
A team of three Shelter Cove firefighters and a chief officer joined rescuers from Whale Gulch Volunteer Fire Company, California State Parks, CAL FIRE’s Thorn station, Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue, and City Ambulance to locate and stabilize the hiker. According to the Shelter Cove Fire press release, the patient was discovered in a steep, densely forested drainage.
CAL FIRE Copter 603 conducted a dynamic hoist operation, lowering two rescuers into the ravine and lifting the injured hiker to safety. He was then transferred to a REACH Air Medical Services helicopter for rapid transport to a regional hospital, the department said.
“This rescue was only possible due to the coordination and teamwork of eight different agencies,” said Shelter Cove Fire Chief Nick Pape in the release. “Even in some of the most remote and challenging areas of the state, we were able to deliver advanced rescue services and rapid medical transport through modern resources and highly trained mostly volunteer personnel.”
Shelter Cove Fire expressed gratitude to all involved agencies and emphasized that the successful outcome underscores the importance of interagency cooperation in responding to emergencies in California’s rugged backcountry.
How old was/is he? How did the rescue team know to hunt for him and where to hunt for him?
I am 28. My friend ran for help
Bless you all!!
As Lain’s mother, I am sincerely grateful to everyone involved who came to my son’s aid. He had activated an emergency call from his iPhone even though there was no signal. He was airlifted out and arrived at a trauma center in Redding in less then 3 hours. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!!