At 6:20 p.m. Sunday 1/11/15, the Malibu Search and Rescue Team responded to a report of three missing hikers in Malibu Creek State Park in Calabasas, California. Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel also responded, including one of their rescue helicopters. As first units arrived, they made cell phone contact with the missing hikers and determined that they were perched on a rock in the middle of a rushing river, the result of heavy rains the day before. The hikers, a 24 year old woman from North Hollywood, and 23 and 25 year old men visiting from Florida, had started their sightseeing hike at noon from the Rock Pool area of the Gorge, intending to hike to the Century Lake Dam. The woman had hiked the Rock Pool and Gorge areas of the park approximately 10 times before but had never encountered these conditions, which included rushing water, extremely slippery rocks, thick foam banks and freezing cold temperatures. Because of the conditions and the length of time that the hikers were out, they were wet and cold and were suffering early hypothermia, prompting their call to 911. The LACOFire copter that responded and assessed the circumstances and determined that they would not do a hoist operation because of the combination of darkness, narrow canyon walls and significant tree blockage. A two person bash team of Malibu Search and Rescue entered through the Century Lake dam (see picture) and quickly encountered rushing water below, together with a significant foam bank caused by the water flow, reminiscent of a similar rescue performed by Malibu SAR in a nearby area of the park just about a year ago. The three hikers were a several hour hike from the command post and because of rushing water, were unable to communicate until rescuers actually physically reached them. Once the bash team made face-to-face contact, the Malibu SAR rescuers assisted the victims off of their rock perch and brought them to the riverbank by forming a human bridge. The three victims, wearing only shorts and t-shirts, were extremely wet, cold and shivering. Rescuers started a fire to warm up the victims and then determined that a ground evac would be very dangerous, rescuer intensive and that the conditions would make the victims worse. A second team of four Malibu SAR rescuers was sent into the Gorge to set up technical rope systems and bring clothing and provisions for the hikers. While the two SAR teams pushed forward in the Gorge, a request for assistance from Ventura County Sheriffs Department was made and a Ventura County rescue helicopter responded. While the dangers of a hoist rescue remained, the smaller rescue copter was able to maneuver into the area and safely hoist out the three hikers and bring them back to the command post, where they were evaluated medical personnel. All Malibu SAR personnel hiked out of the Gorge hours later and returned to the command post after 1:00 a.m. Monday morning. @VCSDSARMediclTeam; @californiastateparks; @castateparks; @losthillssheriffsstation
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 01:19:15 +0000
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