Big Sur climbers airlifted to safety in helicopter rescue

Two climbers were rescued from a steep cliffside near Hurricane Point in Big Sur on Saturday evening after becoming stranded approximately 600 feet below the roadway. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) Paso Robles Air Unit was called to assist by Big Sur Fire around 6:20 p.m.

Due to the hazardous terrain and the climbers' inability to safely disconnect from the helicopter's hoist, a specialized rescue technician was lowered from the H-70 helicopter. The technician secured the first climber in a Pelican rescue harness, and both were extracted to a staging area. The crew then repeated the technical hoist procedure to safely retrieve the second climber.

The CHP described the operation as a “high-risk, low-frequency rescue” that requires continuous training due to the steep terrain and challenging environmental conditions, noting there is “no room for error” during such missions.