The crew of Air Rescue 306 performs hoist rescue of a hiker that had fallen while hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail 
DATE/TIME: Tuesday, July 4th, 3:30 p.m.
INCIDENT: Hoist Rescue
LOCATION: Heath Canyon, Wrightwood
VICTIM(S): Matthew Paulson, 50 years old from Carpenteria
SUMMARY:
On Tuesday, July 4th, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a 911 call from Paulson stating he had fallen approximately 500 foot down steep terrain while hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail south of the town of Wrightwood. Paulson fell the evening of July 3rd but could not get cell reception. Due to darkness, Paulson decided to spend the night in a bush on the side of the mountain. The next day, July 4th, Paulson was able to scramble a short distance up the side of the mountain to a point where he was able to get reception on his phone and call for help.
After being notified of the call, the Sheriff’s desert patrol helicopter 40King3 responded to the area of Heath Canyon and located Paulson hanging on to a small bush at the approximate 7,800 foot level. Heath Canyon is located south of the town of Wrightwood and has near vertical walls that peak about 2,500 feet from the valley floor. The canyon walls are peppered with over 100 foot trees and have several slide areas with loose shale and gravel. Due to the area Paulson was located in, the crew of 40King3 requested Sheriff’s Air Rescue 306 to perform a hoist recue.
Air Rescue 306 responded to the area and lowered Firefighter / Paramedic Eric Sherwin approximately 135 feet down to Paulson. Due to the treacherous conditions, Sherwin remained attached to the helicopter’s recue cable and carefully placed Paulson into a rescue harness. Sherwin and Paulson were hoisted back into the helicopter. Paulson was flown approximately 2 miles to an awaiting ambulance and transported to the hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
40King3 Crew: Deputy Ryan Conner (Pilot), Deputy Larry Scott (Flight Officer)
Air Rescue 306 Crew: Corporal Jon Anderson (Pilot), Mike Ells (Crew Chief), Eric Sherwin (Firefighter Paramedic), Mark Murphy (Fire Captain / Paramedic)
Refer: Corporal Jon Anderson
Station: Emergency Operations Division- Aviation Unit
Case #: VV171850062
Phone No. (909)252-4100
JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
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SBSD - Victor Valley Sheriff's Department
11613 Bartlett Ave
Adelanto, CA 92301
Contact
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