August 31, 2021 - On Saturday, August 29, 2021, the Madera County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue teams responded to a medical aid rescue call in Cascadel along Whiskey Creek in North Fork.   

Around 11:30 A.M., the Madera County Sheriff’s Communications Center received a call from Cal-Fire regarding a male subject who had fallen while hiking near the “swimming pool” at Whiskey Creek about ½ mile down the creek from Cascadel Road S.

The patient, a 39-year-old male from the bay area, slipped and fell into the water while visiting the location with family. Another group of subjects at the location called 911 requesting help reporting the patient suffered injuries to his right lower leg.

Due to the nature of his injuries and location of the incident, California Highway Patrol Helicopter “H-40” was requested for the rescue. Cal-Fire and MCSO Deputy Grever arrived on scene and hiked down to the patient where they found him out of the water laying on a rock.  USFS Law Enforcement, USFS Fire, and Pistoresi Ambulance responded to the location and staged nearby to provide assistance. H-40 hoisted the patient out of the canyon to a nearby field where he was evaluated by EMS, and ultimately flown to a regional hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Sheriff Tyson Pogue states, “We value the strong relationship we share with our allied agency partners which allows for swift and successful missions such as these. No two rescues are alike, and they all present unique challenges which takes the entire team’s expertise to accomplish.”

Source & photo credit: Madera County Sheriff's Office

Close-up of the rescue