Full Notification

On 4/19/14 at approximately 1:05 PM the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Helicopter Henry 1 crew, consisting of a Pilot, Deputy Sheriff/EMT and a Paramedic overheard Fire and Medical Dispatch broadcast a cliff rescue in the area of Mt St. Helena in Napa County. Knowing the area consists of remote hiking trails and steep cliffs with limited vehicle access, the crew confirmed with Cal Fire Napa County Dispatch that assistance was needed and responded from the Charles M. Schulz Airport. During the ten minute flight to the call, Cal Fire Dispatch informed the crew a 52 year old female had fallen approximately 15 feet from a cliff landing on her back.

Once on scene, the Henry 1 crew located the patient lying down, at the bottom of a 175 foot cliff with numerous bystanders standing near her. The subjects near the victim were wearing rock climbing gear and there were several ropes attached to the cliff. Once the Henry 1 crew assessed the scene, Pilot Paul Bradley located an area to land several hundred yards from the patient. Paramedic Don Ricci and Deputy Sheriff Chris Mahoney configured the aircraft for a long line rescue, using 200 feet of rope due to the steep cliff face next to the patient. Bradley flew Ricci and Mahoney to the patient on a 200 foot long line attached to the belly of the aircraft. Once on scene Ricci began assessing the patient while Mahoney prepared for a long line extraction.

With the assistance of several rock climbing enthusiasts on scene, Ricci and Mahoney placed the patient in a spinal precaution devise and Traverse stretcher, used to extract patients on the long line from remote locations. Once prepared for extraction, Bradley flew Ricci, Mahoney and the patient to a nearby area where he could land the aircraft. The patient was loaded into the Helicopter and flown to Queen of the Valley Hospital in the city of Napa, arriving at approximately 2:09 PM.

The entire Henry 1 crew routinely trains for long line rescues in the ocean, on cliffs and other remote areas located along the North Coast. For additional information on the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Helicopter unit, please visit www.friendsofhenry1.org

This Press Release was prepared and submitted by Tactical Flight Offcer (TFO) Chris Mahoney and Lieutenant (Lt) Tim Duke.

For additional information pertaining to this rescue/medical event conatct TFO Mahoney at (707) 565-7195 or Lt Tim Duke at (707) 565-3586 and reference CR # 140419-023.