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 adult, were hoisted up into the copter by a firefighter paramedic from the copter. Both hikers were flown to safety and suffered no injuries.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, “One Team” (promotional video).
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