Saturday, May 2, 2015

Sheriff’s Air 5 Lands at Farnsworth Park in Rescue of Hiker Who Fell 75 Feet Down Cliffside

This morning at 10:15 a.m., the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team was requested by Los Angeles County Fire Department, for the rescue of a mountain biker who fell approximately 75 feet off a cliff, on the Sam Merrill Trail, in the Angeles National Forest.

Several bystanders who saw the mountain biker fall were able to use their cell phones to call 911 and request help.  Sheriff’s Air Rescue 5 arrived first on scene, performed a hoist rescue of the victim and his bicycle, and flew the victim to Farnsworth Park.  Firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service and L.A. County Fire Department cleared Farnsworth Park of people for the helicopter to safely land at the park.  As soon as the helicopter lifted off the park patrons returned to the park.

The victim was covered head to toe in brown dust, and once the paramedics started treating him they saw he only had sustained minor cuts and scratches along his arms and legs.

The mountain biker was on Sam Merrill trail, approximately 2 miles up the trail, when he moved to the side of the trail to let a hiker pass by.  The mountain biker’s tire slipped off the trail, and the victim fell off the side of a cliff.  The mountain biker was wearing a helmet during the accident, both the mountain biker and his bike fell down the hillside approximately 75 feet.

The mountain biker was treated for minor abrasions and released by L.A. County Fire paramedics.  The Altadena Mountain Rescue Team transported the victim and his bicycle back to his vehicle. The mountain biker, male 52 years old, a resident of Pasadena, was thankful for the quick response.