Monterey County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team Conducts 16-hour Rescue Operation of Hiker Who Fell Ill in Ventana Wilderness

 

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Team, along with CalFire and the Urban Search and

Rescue Team completed a nearly 16-hour rescue mission of a hiker who fell ill while hiking in the Ventana

Wilderness area.

Search and Rescue teams were notified at about 8:00 PM on Sunday December 29, 2024, of a 20-year-old

hiker who needed assistance and could not hike out on his own. Thanks to the assistance of other hikers in

the area, an SOS rescue signal was sent out and emergency notification was made to 9-1-1.

6 Monterey County Search and Rescue team members set out to search for the patient who was located

near Sykes Hot Springs. The patient was provided first aid and helicopter rescue assistance was made. Due

to weather conditions, helicopters were unable to assist.

Urban Search and Rescue team members joined in the rescue by foot. While returning, rescue teams became

stranded and unable to cross a river where water levels had risen. Rescue crews and the patient remained at

this location until daylight. Assistance was requested from the U.S. Coast Guard and a helicopter was

deployed to the area. Weather conditions prevented the Coast Guard helicopter from safely hoisting the

patient to safety.

Search and Rescue teams were able to get the patient across the river and continued to carry him out to a

waiting ambulance on Monday December 30, 2024, nearly 16 hours after this rescue operation began. The

rescue covered 16 miles of steep and rugged trails. Search and Rescue team members described this

operation as “physically exhausting” as rain began to fall early in the morning, worsening the already

difficult rescue conditions.

The patient was transported to a local hospital.