Firefighters and Sheriff's deputies teamed up to promptly rescue a 91-year-old woman who took a nasty fall while hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail near Kitchen Creek Falls. The distress call, which came in Wednesday at 12:46 p.m., triggered a collaborative response from Gillespie Helitack and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.
The elderly hiker sustained a pelvic fracture, a serious injury that demanded swift action and expert care. The teams used a helistep maneuver to quickly reach and stabilize the patient. Advanced Life Support (ALS) interventions were provided to manage her pain before she could safely be moved, emphasizing the complexity and delicate nature of the rescue operation.
According to a CAL FIRE/SAN DIEGO COUNTY FIRE Instagram post, Copter 12played a critical role in the operation. The crew skillfully executed an attended Air Bag hoist to airlift the injured woman from the rugged terrain. This extraction technique highlighted the coordination and proficiency of the rescuers, trained to handle such challenging situations.
After the successful hoist, the woman was flown to a nearby landing zone. Care was seamlessly transitioned to the capable hands of REACH Air Medical Services. On Instagram, CAL FIRE/SAN DIEGO COUNTY FIRE praised the collaboration between the different agencies, acknowledging how these partnerships were crucial to ensuring the patient's well-being and safe transport.
