Full Notification

Sheriff’s Find and Rescue Two Missing Hikers in Topanga State Park-Malibu Station

UNIT: Sheriff's Malibu Search and Rescue

NARRATIVE:
At approximately 1850 hours on Saturday, March 2, 2013, Lost Hills/Malibu Station dispatched the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Malibu Search and Rescue to respond to Topanga State Park for a report of two hikers stranded on a peak.

Based on information learned while en route, Malibu SAR sent responding units to two locations, the entrance of Topanga State Park off of Entrada Road and Topanga Canyon, and the Reseda Blvd. entrance to Topanga State Park. The two hikers reported that they had been heading to Eagle Rock, a location near the Reseda Blvd entrance.

Malibu SAR units were able to drive their vehicles approximately ½ mile into the park at which point they stationed their vehicles in view of a wide area of ridge lines. Using flashing amber lights, a green laser and cell phone texting, Malibu SAR units were able to ascertain the general location of the stranded hikers.

Working in conjunction with Los Angeles County Fire Department units and Fire Helicopter 12, Malibu SAR units were able to guide Copter 12 to the general location of the hikers. Copter 12 located the hikers shortly thereafter using their night vision goggles after the hikers flashed their cell phone at the copter. Copter 12 determined that they had to conduct a winch operation to safely retrieve the hikers.

Each of the two hikers, a male and female adults, were hoisted up into the copter by a firefighter paramedic from the copter. Both hikers were flown to safety and suffered no injuries.

Attached are a video and a photo.

http://malibu.patch.com/articles/rescue-underway-in-topanga-state-park#video-13538100

Search and Rescue Team members are Reserve Sheriff’s deputies who volunteer their time to help others for $1 a year, and who partner with sheriff’s civilian volunteers who volunteer for free. There are over 150 members of the eight Search and Rescue teams of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. These rescuers were activated for over 450 search and rescue missions last year, making it one of the most active counties for search and rescue missions in the nation. Reserve deputies and civilian volunteers are supervised by full-time sheriff’s deputies. http://lasdreserve.org


Authored by:
David J. Katz, Sergeant
S/R Training Sergeant, PIO &
LACO Fire Department Liaison
Malibu Search and Rescue Team
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
[email protected]
www.malibusar.org

Forwarded by:
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
4700 Ramona Blvd., Monterey Park CA 91754
Office: 323-267-4800
http://www.lasd.org
[email protected]
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Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department



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