Recently in rescue Category

It's was a busy weekend  for sheriff's officials and other rescuers in the Angeles National Forest over the weekend, where 15 people were rescued and one body was recovered. Sheriff's officials have put together a summary of the weekend incidents, complete with footage from rescue helicopter crew members' helmet cameras:

ALTADENA -- Sheriff's officials rescued two Rancho Cucamonga hikers from Eaton Canyon Thursday after one of them fell from a cliff and the other became stranded, authorities said.
Rescuers responded to reports shortly after 3 p.m. that a 31-year-old man had fallen from a cliff near the third waterfall in Eaton Canyon, while his 20-year-old female hiking companion remained stuck on the cliff, Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said in a written statement.
Altadena Search and Rescue Team members reached the woman and hoisted her to safety via helicopter about 4 p.m., officials said. She was shaken but uninjured.
The man had suffered several broken bones in one of his legs, Sgt. Debra Herman said.
After rescuers tended to his injuries at the scene, he was flown to an area hospital for treatment, officials said. An update on his condition was not available Friday, however the man was expected to survive.

PASADENA -- Authorities Tuesday released the name of a young man who was killed in a fall from a waterfall in Eaton Canyon.
Erwin Molina, 21, was pronounced dead at Huntington Hospital shortly after falling from the first waterfall of Eaton Canyon Falls about 6:30 p.m. Monday, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner's Assistant Chief of Operations Ed Winter said. Coroner's officials listed the man as 21 years old, while fire officials listed him as 26.
The victim's city of residency was not clear Tuesday afternoon.
After losing his footing and falling about 35 feet from the top of Eaton Canyon Falls, the young man landed on some rocks, fire officials said.
"He was already in critical condition when we arrived," Pasadena Fire Department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said.
He was flown by helicopter to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Molina was hiking with three companions when he fell, Derderian said.
Monday's fatal fall was the second incident involving an troubled hiker at the Eaton Canyon Falls.
About 15 minutes before Molina fell from the falls, the sheriff's Altadena Search and Rescue Team rescued a 17-year-old Altadena boy who had become stranded on a ledge near the same waterfall, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Robert Blume said in a written statement.
"A Pasadena resident was hiking along the trail, when she heard a male teen yelling from a ledge near the first waterfall," Blume said. The teen was unable to get himself down from the ledge.
"Sheriff's rescue team members rapelled down the cliff and lowered the teen to safety using ropes and rapelling equipment," Blume said.
The teen was unhurt.
Another man, 22, was hiking about 5 p.m. July 17 between the first and second waterfalls when he injured his ankle and was unable to get out of the canyon alone, officials said. He called for help with a cell phone.
Rescuers found the man and flew him to an area hospital.
Many of the injuries rescuers see in Eaton Canyon occur between the first and second waterfalls, Derderian said. "It's challenging terrain."
Officials advised hikers to be prepared and be cautious while enjoying the foothill wildlands.

ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST -- Officials and friends resuscitated and rescued a man from the San Gabriel River after he jumped or fell in and landed on a rock, authorities said Tuesday.
Officials received a call just after 5 p.m. Monday that a 46-year-old man, who had been drinking alcohol with friends near East Fork Road, "had either fallen or dove into the rushing water of the San Gabriel River," Los Angeles County sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker said in a written statement. "He struck a rock and was unresponsive and laying face down in the water."
"Witnesses moved him a short distance, but were hampered in their efforts due to it being a very treacherous area of the river and that it was difficult to move the man as he weighed well over 300 pounds," Parker said.
The friends began performing CPR and called 9-1-1.
U.S. Forest Service officials and a sheriff's rescue helicopter happened to be in the area and arrived to help within minutes, Parker said.
Sheriff's paramedics were lowered from the helicopter and were able to resuscitate the victim, hoist him up into the aircraft and take him to a hospital, officials said. He was listed in stable condition Tuesday.

EATON CANYON -- Authorities pulled two injured young men from Eaton Canyon Saturday in unrelated rescues, officials said.
The first incident was reported just after 1 p.m. between the second and third waterfalls of the canyon, Los Angeles County sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker said in a written statement.
Sheriff's deputies, search and rescue team members and a sheriff's helicopter found the 26-year-old man, who had fallen about 200 feet, and hospitalized him with injuries initially described as moderate, officials said.
Officials received a second report of an injured hiker in Eaton Canyon about 2:25 p.m., Pasadena Fire Department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said in a written statement.
Rescuers were notified that a 23-year-old man had fallen down into the canyon under some power lines near the Eaton Canyon Nature Center, Derderian said.
Pasadena fire and sheriff's officials located the man, she said, and flew him by helicopter to a hospital with "moderate to severe" injuries.

PHOTO of Sunday's second Eaton Canyon rescue courtesy of the Pasadena Fire Department.

AZUSA -- A 74-year-old man who was trapped overnight after his SUV plunged 125 feet off of Highway 39 was rescued by helicopter Monday morning.

Family members reported the man missing Sunday night, officials said.

"He's in pretty good shape for a 74-year-old who was down there in the cold all night," Los Angeles County Fire Battalion Chief Jim Geandee said. Story and video by reporter Thomas Himes: