August 9, 2023 - Ventura County Sheriff's Office officials report that on August 7, 2023, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) Teams located and came to the aid of a 78-year-old missing hiker near Sawmill Mountain in the Chumash Wilderness area of Ventura County.
On August 5, 2023, at approximately 3:00 P.M. Ventura County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a 911 transfer from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office. Initial reports were that Balaji Keshava had been hiking with a group of individuals when he was somehow separated from the group near Grouse Mountain after losing the trail in Ventura County. Dispatchers were able to determine Balaji’s general location using information gathered from the cell phone call he placed after dialing 911.
Immediately thereafter, members of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office SAR Teams were activated and responded to the area of Cerro Noroeste where a trailhead was located. Due to the close proximity to the Kern County line, a Kern County Sheriff’s Office helicopter also assisted with the initial aerial search. Ventura County SAR members searched throughout the evening of August 5th and continued non-stop during the night. A Ventura County Aviation Unit helicopter equipped with a FLIR camera also responded.
SAR team members continued throughout the day of August 6th hiking for several miles in unforgiving terrain at altitudes exceeding 8,000 feet. The Ventura County Aviation Unit remained on-scene airlifting members into the backcountry as needed. Approximately 35 personnel including searchers and coordinators were involved in the effort.
On August 7, at approximately 7:00 a.m. search efforts resumed with the assistance of two Ventura County Aviation Unit helicopters. Approximately 14 SAR team members were again airlifted into pre-designated landing areas adjacent to search zones.
At approximately 11:00 a.m. SAR team members located Balaji on a south facing aspect of Grouse Mountain in good condition. Balaji was hoisted from the location via helicopter before receiving immediate care from a SAR flight paramedic on-board the aircraft. He was then flown to a nearby hospital where his care was transferred to hospital personnel.
As a reminder, if you do find yourself in a situation where you are hiking and become lost, call 911 immediately and stay where you are. This will help searchers locate you. Do not move unless the location becomes unsafe. If your cell phone battery is running low, close or try to avoid using apps that utilize GPS. They often use a significant amount of battery power. Avoid using your cell phone as a primary source of lighting if it’s dark. Remember to let others know where you plan on hiking and when to expect your return. Be aware of the weather, take plenty of water, and an external power bank for your cell phone. Being prepared and having a few simple essentials could save your life.
Ventura County SAR Teams consist entirely of volunteers skilled in search and rescue operations in mountain, canyon, ocean, and urban settings. SAR members volunteer on average thousands of hours per year on searches, rescues, training, and public events.
For more information on the SAR teams, and how you can join, visit their website at www.vcsar.org. Additionally, the team can be followed on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Nature of Incident: Ventura County Search & Rescue (SAR) Teams Locate 78-Year-Old Missing Hiker
Report Number: 23-100407
Location: Chumash Wilderness / Sawmill & Grouse Mountain, CA
Date & Time: 08/07/23 @ approximately 11:00 a.m.
Unit(s) Responsible: Ventura County SAR Teams / Ventura County Sheriff’s Aviation Unit / Special Services
|
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent |
City of Residence |
Age |
|
(P) Balaji Keshava |
Northridge |
78 |
Source & photos: Ventura County Sheriff's Office
