Full Notification

Nature of Incident: Helicopter Rescue



Location: Santa Monica Mountains, Sycamore Cyn. Malibu CA



Date & Time: 07/7/2010 1:54 PM



Unit Responsible: Sheriff’s Aviation Unit



(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses City of residence Age

V-1 Juvenile Female Ontonagon, Mich 11





Narrative: On July 7, 2010 at approximately 2:00 PM a helicopter was requested for a victim who was stranded on a cliff in the Santa Monica Mountains, overlooking the ocean, near Sycamore Cyn. Upon arrival the helicopter crew noticed that a young girl was stranded approximately 200 feet up the cliff side clinging to a rock outcropping. The girl’s father had climbed the rocky cliff but was only able to ascend to within 40 feet of his daughter. A California State Park Ranger had climbed up to her location and was helping her remain calm while sizing up the rescue options.



The Sheriff’s Department helicopter, piloted by Kim Bergeson responded with a rescue crew comprised of AMR Paramedic Vanvlymen, Fire Captain Monday, Fire Fighter Golden and Sheriff’s Sergeant Underlin. Fire Fighter Golden was hoisted out of the hovering helicopter approximately 100 feet down to the stranded girl to assess her condition. Golden was able to cling to the rock face next to the victim and communicate to the helicopter that the victim was uninjured but unable to climb down due to the unstable rock conditions.



Fire Fighter Golden was able to attach a rescue rope to a small bush that was growing out of the rock and both the girl and the ranger were able to safely descend the cliff face with the aid of the rope to waiting emergency personnel.



Golden was then able to untie the rescue rope from the small bush and he was hoisted back into the helicopter.



While rock climbing can be a safe activity, it requires proper safety equipment and training. Rock conditions along the Pacific Coast in Ventura County are inherently unsafe due to the unstable shale rock and a lack of safe areas where proper climbing equipment can be utilized.





A video of this rescue, shot from a helmet camera, can be viewed at VCSD.org tomorrow.



Officer Preparing Release: Sergeant F. Underlin



Follow-up Contact: Sergeant F. Underlin 947-8196



Date of Release: 7-7-2010