January 1, 2025 – Monterey County Sheriff’s Office officials report that the Sheriff's Search and Rescue Team, along with CalFire and the Urban Search and Rescue Team completed a nearly 16-hour rescue mission of a hiker who fell ill while hiking in the Ventana Wilderness area.

Search and Rescue teams were notified at about 8:00 P.M. on Saturday, December 28th, 2024, of a 20-year-old hiker who needed assistance and could not hike out on his own. Thanks to the assistance of other hikers in the area, an SOS rescue signal was sent out and emergency notification was made to 9-1-1.

Six Monterey County Search and Rescue team members set out to search for the patient who was located near Sykes Hot Springs. The patient was provided first aid and helicopter rescue assistance was provided. Due to weather conditions, helicopters were unable to assist.

Urban Search and Rescue team members joined in the rescue by foot. While returning, rescue teams became stranded and unable to cross a river where water levels had risen. Rescue crews and the patient remained at this location until daylight. Assistance was requested from the U.S. Coast Guard and a helicopter was deployed to the area. Weather conditions prevented the Coast Guard helicopter from safely hoisting the patient to safety.

Search and Rescue teams were able to get the patient across the river and continued to carry him out to a waiting ambulance on Sunday, December 29th, 2024, nearly 16 hours after this rescue operation began. The rescue covered 16 miles of steep and rugged trails. Search and Rescue team members described this operation as “physically exhausting” as rain began to fall early in the morning, worsening the already difficult rescue conditions.

The patient was transported to a local hospital.

Source & photos: Monterey County Sheriff’s Office