Video captured the moment two injured hikers were rescued and airlifted from a trail at Mount San Jacinto after falling off a cliff.
On Sunday, Oct. 27, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Air Rescue team responded to the victims who had fallen down about 25 feet onto a rocky ravine. One hiker was left with major injuries.
Rescuers were able to pinpoint the hikers’ location through a satellite device they brought with them. The trail was located near the Palm Springs area.
“His injuries when he first got in there, obviously facial trauma,” Jason Beeman, a deputy sheriff rescue specialist, tells KTLA’s Shelby Nelson. “And then he complained of shoulder, wrist and leg pain.”
The rescue location was down a treacherous path and made access difficult for rescuers and aircrew members.
“This was a pretty challenging call, given the terrain,” said Cpl. Mike Calhoun, the pilot involved. “It was very vertical.”
A rocky ravine in Mount San Jacinto where two hikers were rescued from on Oct. 27, 2024. (@rsoaviation) 
One hiker is seen injured and bloodied as rescuers airlift him from a rocky ravine to safety on Oct. 27, 2024. (@rsoaviation) 
A rocky ravine in Mount San Jacinto where two hikers were rescued from on Oct. 27, 2024. (@rsoaviation) 
One hiker is seen injured and bloodied as rescuers airlift him from a rocky ravine to safety on Oct. 27, 2024. (@rsoaviation) 
The injured hiker was rushed by ambulance to a hospital for surgery on Oct. 27, 2024. (@rsoaviation) 
The second hiker was airlifted to safety after crews transported the injured hiker. (@rsoaviation) 
The second hiker was airlifted to safety after crews transported the injured hiker. (@rsoaviation) 
From left: Jason Tilley, a deputy rescue specialist EMT and Cpl. Mike Calhoun, the pilot involved in the rescue, speak to KTLA. (KTLA) 
A rocky ravine in Mount San Jacinto where two hikers were rescued from on Oct. 27, 2024. (@rsoaviation)
The two hikers had run out of water on their trip, so they attempted to take a shortcut through the trail when they slipped and fell, officials said.
The hiker who was more severely injured was responsive when he was located and airlifted to safety.
“I put a spinal mobilization, a C-collar that goes on so his head wouldn’t move and then I packaged him because I knew the quickest way to get him treatment was to get him off the hill,” Beeman said.
The injured man was rushed to a hospital where he underwent surgery. Aircrews returned to rescue the second hiker who was found at a higher elevation and was not seriously injured.
Park and rescue officials advised hikers to always be prepared and exercise caution when heading out into the wilderness.
“Always be prepared, be prepared like you’re going to have to spend the night,” said Jason Tilley, a deputy rescue specialist EMT. “Have a jacket, extra food, water, and some type of signaling device.”
