Hikers Stranded Amid Hot Conditions Rescued By Helicopter In Hemet

HEMET, CA — Two hikers who became injured and stranded on a trail in a remote canyon south of Hemet amid scorching heat were rescued Thursday in an operation coordinated between fire personnel and a sheriff's helicopter crew.

The "hikers down" call was received about 1:30 p.m. in Simpson Park, southeast of the Ramona Bowl, in rugged terrain, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

An agency spokeswoman said that two adults, whose identities were not released, called for help after one of them suffered unspecified injuries to the lower extremities, and the other fell ill for unknown reasons.

Temperatures in the area were approaching the upper 90s.

Multiple engine crews were sent to the location and established a staging area at the entrance to the park, then called on the sheriff's STAR-9 helicopter crew, based at Hemet-Ryan Airport, to assist with locating and ferrying the victims to a place where ambulances could retrieve them, according to officials at the scene.

The helicopter crew spotted the hikers about 2:15 p.m. and returned to the airport to configure a hoist to carry them.

The first hiker was hoisted to safety at 2:30 p.m., and the second was picked up roughly five minutes later, officials said.

The victims were taken to a hospital in separate ambulances for treatment.