Last Thursday, an operation near Ocean Cove Campground saw a 19-year-old fisherman rescued after tumbling off a cliff and into the ocean, with Sonoma County's Henry-1 helicopter providing critical support. According to a post from the Sonoma Sheriff's Office on Facebook, the fisherman endured a grueling 15 minutes fighting the waves and the rocks before being pulled to safety by onlookers. The incident occurred moments before the helicopter team touched down at the scene.
The Sheriff's office detailed the rescue, indicating that after the helicopter's arrival, its Tactical Flight Officer, an Emergency Medical Technician, was quickly deployed to immobilize the victim in a half-back rescue device and traverse stretcher. The fisherman was airlifted by a 100-foot-long line to a nearby parking lot where medical personnel from various local fire and life support agencies were waiting. Notably, this group effort unfolded hours after Henry-1 completed a joint training exercise with several agencies.
According to the Sonoma Sheriff's Facebook page, the agencies involved in the operation included the Coast Life Support District, Timbercove Fire Protection District, CALFIRE, and North Sonoma Coast Fire Protection District, all of whom were prepared thanks to their recent joint training. The victim, who suffered major injuries from the fall and his time in the water, was subsequently flown to a local trauma center with the in-flight assistance of a Coast Life Support District paramedic.
