Thursday, July 16, 2015

Missing Boy Rescued in Coyote Canyon Wednesday Night as High Voltage Lines Thwart Helicopter Hoist

Rescued 16-year-old hiker thanks members of the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team.

Photo courtesy DEPUTY DAN PAIGE

A missing 16-year-old boy was safely led out of Coyote Canyon by units of the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team Wednesday night about 8 p.m. after high voltage power lines prevented the Sheriff’s Air Rescue 5 helicopter from executing a hoist rescue, authorities said.

The Rescue Team was activated about 4:30 p.m. for the rescue of the young  hiker, who was stranded on a steep cliff in area of Eaton Canyon.

The Altadena Sheriff’s station was alerted to the boy’s predicament by the father of a second boy who had been hiking with him when the pair became separated.

Shortly after 6:15 p.m., Sheriff’s Air Rescue 5 located the hiker in Coyote Canyon.

The hiker was not injured, however he was underneath high voltage power lines. The Sheriff’s helicopter lowered a paramedic to hike in to the area due to the close proximity to the power lines. The helicopter was not able to perform a hoist rescue of the hiker.

As Air 5 was attempting rescue of the boy, the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team was simultaneously hiking up the canyon. The Altadena Rescue ground team was able to reach the youth and lead him to the canyon bottom as the paramedic was hoisted into Air 5 from a safe location.

The hiker was climbing the mountain with a friend when he left the trail and became stranded on an extremely steep cliff side. The friend, also a juvenile, was able to hike out of the canyon.

The hiker was released to his father who met him at the Eaton Canyon Nature Center.