Crime & Safety
Sheriff's Department, Aviation Unit Help with Stranded Hiker Rescue
The sheriff's department called out their emergency response team, or SERT, as well as personnel from the National State Parks Service and the sheriff's aviation unit, according to a police report.
A 19-year-old man was rescued after he injured himself while hiking near the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, sheriff's officials said Tuesday.
The rescue operation was carried out Monday around 3:30 p.m., when Cabazon sheriff's deputies responded to the tram regarding a report of a hiker in need of rescue, according to Sheriff's Sgt. Mike Portillo.
"The hiker, identified as 19-year-old Michael Newby of Palm Springs, California, reported to have injured himself and was unable to make it down the mountain without assistance," he said.
The sheriff's department called out their emergency response team, or SERT, as well as personnel from the National State Parks Service and the sheriff's aviation unit, Portillo said.
"Park Rangers reached the injured hiker about 4:30 P.M., and assessed Newby," he added. "Newby was unable to make it to the bottom on his own and had to be airlifted by the Riverside County Sheriff's helicopter."
Once he was brought down to safety, the teen was taken to a local hospital to be treated for injuries described as "non-life threatening".
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