DATE/TIME: Wednesday, July 29, 2020, 2:30 p.m.
INCIDENT: Hoist Rescue
LOCATION: Big Falls, Forest Falls
VICTIM(S): 17-year-old male, Chino Hills
SUMMARY: On Wednesday, July 29, 2020, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Sheriff’s Dispatch received a 911 call from a friend of the victim, stating they were hiking the Big Falls Trail and the victim was stuck. The victim told his friend that he was on steep terrain, and he could not climb up or down safely. A Sheriff’s deputy from the Yucaipa Station and Sheriff’s Patrol Helicopter 40-KING-5 responded to the area. The deputy was able to make phone contact with the victim and asked him to call 911 so they could get a GPS location where he was.
40-KING-5 was given the GPS location by dispatch and located the victim. The victim was found to be on steep rocky terrain at the 6,600’ elevation. The crew of 40-KING-5 did not see any trails in the area that the victim could safely be guided to. The crew determined a hoist rescue would be needed to get the victim off the mountain safely. The victim was told to stay at the location, and the helicopter would return and hoist him out of the area.
40-KING-5 returned to the location with a San Bernardino County Fire Paramedic on board and would be the hoist rider/rescuer. The medic was hoisted approximately 65’ to the victim and placed on a narrow saddle near him. Once the medic was safely on the ground, he confirmed that the victim was not injured and put the victim into a rescue harness. The victim was hoisted to the helicopter and then transported to a nearby landing area and transferred to the deputy and a waiting ambulance. 40-KING-5 returned to the location and hoisted the medic back to the helicopter.
40-KING-5 Crew:
Pilot – Corporal Ryan Peppler
Hoist Operator – Deputy Jake Hernandez
Paramedic / Hoist Rider – Engineer Paramedic Mike Demoff
Refer: Ryan Peppler, Corporal
Station: Emergency Operations Division - Aviation Unit
Phone No. (909)252-4100
Case No. 042000431
JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
