During a hike in California's Inyo Mountains on Tuesday (December 5), a man found himself in a harrowing situation when he became trapped under a five-ton boulder, causing him intense pain.
After nightfall, a team of nine rescuers arrived at the scene and discovered the hiker, who remains unidentified, in excruciating pain.
His left leg was trapped under a large boulder on a steep hillside, presenting a challenging and urgent rescue situation.
The reports say, "With the help of California Highway Patrol Central Division Air Operations helicopter H40, two rescue team members were inserted via helicopter to Santa Rita Flat, while seven other team members followed in vehicles navigating a network for four-wheel drive roads.
"Several other team members and Sheriff’s coordinators supervised and supported the rescue from the SAR team’s base in Bishop."
The rescue team pulled the man's leg from the boulder using ropes, pulleys, and leverage.
However, because of his serious injuries, a helicopter from US Naval Air Station Lemoore was summoned to assist to the ground recuse.
Due to the absence of suitable helicopter landing zones in the vicinity, a US Navy medic descended via rappel from the helicopter, then they lifted the hiker to safety and took him to the nearest hospital.
The rescue took place for several hours until 4 am the next morning.
"Challenges encountered on this mission included coordination of multiple agencies and resources; accessing an accident scene in steep, loose rocky terrain; using limited resources to move a large boulder; managing a severely injured patient for several hours while awaiting the helicopter extrication; assisting in a nighttime helicopter hoist; all in chilly December darkness," according to the Inyo County Search and Rescue.
The remarkable efforts of the rescue team have garnered widespread praise on social media, with people commending their incredible and unwavering dedication to saving the trapped hiker.
Incredible effort to save this man's life in such dangerous conditions, one user commented.
We are grateful to all participating agencies and Inyo County Search & Rescue, the second expressed.
They're heroes in real life, another left their compliment.
