A mountain biker, after sustaining a severe injury, was rescued from the rugged terrain alongside the American River by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) helicopter on Monday. The incident took place along the Confluence Trail within Auburn State Recreation Area. The biker was reported to have potentially broken their femur and was unable to make it off the trail without assistance.
According to FOX40, the CHP's Valley Air Division responded promptly after being called in by the CAL FIRE Grass Valley unit. Locating the rider upstream from the river's confluence, the CHP helicopter initiated a precision rescue operation. Ground crews, unable to gently move the biker due to their condition and level of pain, ascertained that an airlift was necessary.
Details shared on the CHP - Valley Division Air Operations Facebook page disclosed that the helicopter, known as H-20, landed off site to prepare for the extraction. After equipping the helicopter for the hoist, the air crew deployed a Bauman bag and backboard essential for the patient's transport. This equipment ensured the rider was safely secured during the lift.
Once hoisted, the biker was transported to the Old Forest Hill Road Bridge—an area that was temporarily closed for the rescue operation—and into the care of waiting ambulance personnel. With the evident anticipation of the CHP crew and their ground partners enveloping the scene, the ambulance carried the injured party to Auburn Faith Hospital for further treatment.
