An injured hiker was rescued in Joshua Tree National Park via night-hoist rescue Saturday. According to Sheriff’s reports, Sergio Betancur, a 23-year-old resident of Burbank, was hiking with friends in the Wonderland of Rocks area between Barker Dam and the Wall Street Mill in Joshua Tree National Park when the group began hiking off trail through the area’s large boulders. Betancur fell about 7:30 p.m. while attempting to jump from one large rock to another, suffering a serious, but non-life threatening injury to his leg. Betancur’s friends hiked to the park entrance and called 911. Members of the San Bernardino County Fire Department and Joshua Tree National Park Rangers responded, hiking with Betancur’s friends back to the accident scene. Emergency responders assessed Betancur’s injuries and determined that he needed to be hoisted out. A San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department patrol helicopter was called to assist. Sheriff’s patrol helicopter 40 King 3 arrived at the location and assessed the situation. The helicopter crew conducted this operation about 11 p.m. and used night vision equipment. Betancur was secured into a rescue harness, hoisted from the rock, and transported via helicopter to a landing zone where he was transported by Morongo Basin Ambulance to Hi-Desert Medical Center.
NIGHT HOIST RESCUE OF INJURED HIKER IN JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK SATURDAY
