Full Notification

On Saturday March 21, 2015 at approximately 5:45 PM, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office Helicopter, Henry 1, was dispatched to the area of Arch Rock at the Point Reyes National Seashore to assist with the rescue of several subjects injured during a major rock slide. The Henry 1 crew consists of a pilot, a paramedic and a Deputy Sheriff as the Tactical Flight Officer.

The Henry 1 crew arrived at 6:02 PM, and saw that an approximately 50 foot section of cliff collapsed, crumbling approximately 75 feet to the beach below. There were no other emergency personnel on scene yet. They also several people standing in the rubble signaling the helicopter by waving their hands.

There were some people in the rubble at the surf line assisting what appeared to be one victim. Approximately 50 feet above that victim in the surf line, several other bystanders in the rubble assisting what appeared to be a second victim. It was unclear if the victims were indeed trapped in the rubble.

The pilot landed the helicopter on the beach, just north of the rubble. The paramedic quickly assessed the two victims, determining the female victim, located in the upper portion of the rubble, had suffered significant injuries and needed immediate extraction.

The TFO configured the aircraft for a long line rescue while the paramedic and several bystanders pulled the victim from the rubble. They carefully strapped her into the stretcher attached to the helicopter by a 100 foot long line. The TFO and the victim were flown approximately 1 mile suspended from the aircraft to the trailhead at the Bear Valley Visitors Center where emergency crews were staged. Marin County Fire Department immediately assessed the victim and found no signs of life, pronouncing her deceased.

The pilot flew the TFO back to the scene of the cliff collapse on the long line where the paramedic and several bystanders were removing the second victim, a male, from the rubble. He was alive, very injured, and complaining of pain. He was trapped under a large rock and, due to the rising tide, was now in the surf. Conditions worsened as the fog bank moved rapidly inland and the weather ceiling became lower, extremely limiting the time to perform the rescue. There were still no other emergency personnel on scene.

Based on the exceptionally dire circumstances, coupled with the man’s critical injuries, the Henry 1 crew decided to expedite the extraction. They quickly secured him in the in the removal device, then pilot flew the TFO, paramedic and victim to the staging area on the 100 foot long line. Upon arriving at the staging area, the man was immediately transferred to the REACH 3 air ambulance crew and flow to a trauma center.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Helicopter regularly trains on the coast region for emergency response and long line rescues. We work in tandem with our partners in public safety to provide and support for the citizens of and visitors to our counties. The incident at Arch Rock is being investigated by the National Parks Service, Point Reyes Station. Please contact that agency for further inquiries.


Case # 150321-017

Prepared by Sergeant Cecile Focha
Media Relations / PIO