Downed hiker, 61, rescued in Riverside County by helicopter

A 61-year-old hiker who may have had a stroke was airlifted Saturday from a remote part of Riverside County by a San Diego County Sheriff's Department helicopter, officials said.

Copter 10, flown by Cpl. Tony Webber, hovered about 80 feet off the ground while Cal Fire Capt. Jim Barthol operated a hoist to lower firefighter Darren Sowa to the ground in the Aguanga area of southern Riverside County.

The hiker was secured in a "screamer suit" harness and hoisted into the helicopter. The copter then flew to a nearby airstrip where the hiker was transferred to a Mercy Air helicopter and taken to the hospital.

-- Tony Perry in San Diego

Comments

[save the deserts!]

Thanks, gentlemen! It's great to know you are there to help if we want to explore our beautiful wild areas and something unexpected happens. America needs more people out hiking, so we all appreciate the rescue services!!

[Get Planted]

When someone needs to be rescued because they did someting really stupid, which happens all the time, I think they should pay for the rescue costs. This guy was apparently a victim of something he had no control over and should not be billed for the rescue.