Video released of daring mountain rescue in Southern California

Search and rescue teams in Riverside County, California, braved rugged terrain and frigid temperatures to rescue two hikers who fell down a cliff. Body-worn camera footage of the ordeal was released on Tuesday.

The rescue efforts started on March 1, when, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, a male and female hiker fell roughly 800 feet down a snowy cliff from a ridgeline trail above Idyllwild. 

“Riverside Sheriff helicopter Rescue 9 initially responded and made several attempts to hoist the victims out, but could not due to very high winds,” authorities said.

Orange County Fire Authority and Cal Fire also sent helicopter crews. Still, they couldn’t reach the victims, so a ground team of volunteers from the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit was dispatched and stayed with them through the night.

The next day brought even more challenges and frustration.

“Several attempts were made by helicopter … but were unsuccessful due to mountain obscuration and high turbulence surface winds,” the sheriff’s office said. So, the victims and ground crews hunkered down for a second frigid night.

Finally, on Tuesday morning, after three attempts and under less-than-ideal windy conditions, Riverside County’s Rescue 9 helicopter crew was able to pull off a hoist rescue.

Body camera video shows a rescuer descending into the forest, narrowly missing trees, and eventually landing on the snow-covered terrain where he was met by ground crews and directed to the victims.

The male hiker, who was the most severely injured, was hoisted into the helicopter and flown to Desert Regional Medical Center for treatment, authorities said. A Cal Fire helicopter crew then flew in and hoisted the female hiker out.

Their conditions were not available on Wednesday.

“Many, many thanks to all those ground crews that were involved as well as all the helicopter crews who were involved in this rescue,” the sheriff’s office said.