Crews pull body of teenager out of canyon after ill-fated hiking trip
The body of a 17-year-old Fontana hiker was pulled from a Lytle Creek canyon Monday after hours of strenuous rescue efforts that were hindered by the day's severe winds.
Search-and-rescue volunteers pulled Charlie Martin Ruiz about 2:30 p.m. from the shooting range near Lytle Creek, where the teenager had been killed in a rock slide the day before, San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Jodi Miller said.
Sheriff's rope crews were there at sunrise Monday to hoist Ruiz's body out, but winds that picked up throughout the day forced the crews to find a different route to the body.
Search-and-rescue volunteers pulled Charlie Martin Ruiz about 2:30 p.m. from the shooting range near Lytle Creek, where the teenager had been killed in a rock slide the day before, San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Jodi Miller said.
Sheriff's rope crews were there at sunrise Monday to hoist Ruiz's body out, but winds that picked up throughout the day forced the crews to find a different route to the body.
"Due to the degree of gusting winds, it was just unsafe," Miller said.
Instead, volunteers rappelled down the steep, rough terrain to Ruiz's body.
Crews were able to get within 100 yards of the body by using a 4-wheel-drive vehicle on an unmaintained forest road, a search-and-rescue member said at the scene.
The crews used a rope system to send a search-and-rescue member and a coroner's official to Ruiz, Miller said.
The crew then prepared the body and strapped it to a litter -- a rescue board that has a plastic bottom for sliding -- to get it back up to the road, Miller said.
One of the three people Ruiz was hiking with called for help after he was hit in the head with a rock, but Ruiz was pronounced dead shortly before 5 p.m. Sunday.
Although sheriff's officials were able to get a paramedic into the area to attempt CPR, crews had to stop their rescue efforts as the light faded.
lori.consalvo@inlandnewspapers.com
Instead, volunteers rappelled down the steep, rough terrain to Ruiz's body.
Crews were able to get within 100 yards of the body by using a 4-wheel-drive vehicle on an unmaintained forest road, a search-and-rescue member said at the scene.
The crews used a rope system to send a search-and-rescue member and a coroner's official to Ruiz, Miller said.
The crew then prepared the body and strapped it to a litter -- a rescue board that has a plastic bottom for sliding -- to get it back up to the road, Miller said.
One of the three people Ruiz was hiking with called for help after he was hit in the head with a rock, but Ruiz was pronounced dead shortly before 5 p.m. Sunday.
Although sheriff's officials were able to get a paramedic into the area to attempt CPR, crews had to stop their rescue efforts as the light faded.
lori.consalvo@inlandnewspapers.com
this is so sad.
he was so young.
i didnt know they guy but saw him around school.
makes me sad.
just knowing.
and thinking.
man this suck so bad i am so sad because i love him and we were gunna get married yes i was his fince but now we cant even get married because god had to take him from me man... i miss you baby i will always love you and i will take care of your family dont worry i love you babe hopefuly i will seee you soon when god takes me ok i love you charlie martin ruiz
love always your wife tommi jo ruiz