Date/Time: December 16, 2021, 1205P.M.
Incident: Technical Hoist Rescue
Location: Timber Mountain, Cucamonga Wilderness
Victim: Nicholas Ardoin, 32, of Encinitas, California
On Thursday, December 16, 2021, Fontana Station deputies received a report of a male hiker who fell down an ice chute while hiking in the Cucamonga Wilderness. The hiker, identified as Nicholas Ardoin, suffered injuries from the fall and was unable to move. A tree stopped his fall and he held on to it until helped arrived. Fontana deputies requested assistance from the Sheriff's Aviation Unit to help locate the male and rescue him due to his remote and treacherous location.
Sheriff’s Aviation responded to the area and began searching for Nicholas. Due to poor cellular phone reception, information was limited, and the crew had a difficult time locating him. After an extensive search, the crew located Nicholas holding on to a tree. The crew of 40-King-3 requested assistance from Air Rescue 307 to assist with the technical hoist.
The crew of Air Rescue 307 arrived at the scene and coordinated with the crew of 40-King-3 to affect a rescue. Air Medic Tom Gallant was lowered via hoist about 175' down to a location near Nicholas. The ground was icy, hard packed and the rescuer had to set up anchors to proceed with the rescue operation. Once secured, the rescuer and hoist operator worked together to get Nicholas out from underneath the trees and hoisted him to the helicopter, all while the pilot kept the helicopter in a hover for an extended amount of time. Air Medic Melanie Munns rendered medical aid to Nicholas while Air Medic Gallant was hoisted to the helicopter. The crew then transported Nicholas to Loma Linda University Medical Center for evaluation and treatment.
40-King-3 Crew
Pilot - Corporal Greg Jimenez
Flight Officer - Deputy Doug Brimmer
Air Rescue 307 Crew
Pilot - Lieutenant Daniel Futscher
Hoist Operator - Corporal Chris Mejia
Air Medic - Nurse Tom Gallant
Air Medic - Nurse Melanie Munns
Refer: Corporal Chris Mejia
Station: Emergency Operations Division - Aviation Unit
Phone No. (909) 252-4100
Case No. FNR2103286
Shannon D. Dicus, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department
