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California rescue operations save hikers in Big Sur and sailor on Santa Rosa Island
Emergency crews conducted two separate rescue operations in California involving lost or stranded individuals.
In Big Sur, three hikers were rescued from the rugged backcountry of Limekiln State Park after becoming lost and disoriented. The operation, which began following a satellite 911 call on Sunday night, was complicated by one hiker experiencing a medical emergency and trails being heavily overgrown. Search and rescue teams used machetes and chainsaws to clear a path through dense vegetation. A Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopter from Naval Air Station Lemoore eventually hoisted the group to safety around 12:30 a.m. Monday.
Separately, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued a sailor from Santa Rosa Island after a 25-foot sailboat ran aground. A helicopter crew from Ventura County airlifted the individual to Camarillo Airport for medical evaluation. No injuries were reported in the maritime incident, and the vessel was subsequently towed to Ventura Harbor.
Entities
Big Sur · Channel Islands National Park · Limekiln State Park · Monterey County Sheriff’s Office · Naval Air Station Lemoore · Santa Rosa Island · U.S. Coast Guard · Ventura County Fire Department