September 1, 2023 - Madera County Sheriff's Office officials report that on August 28, 2023, a 66-year-old male from Boston, MA was hiking with a small group in the area of Twin Island Lake at an elevation of nearly 10,000 feet, when he injured his left leg and was not able to walk anymore.

The Madera County Sheriff’s Communications Center was notified via the SOS feature of a Garmin inReach device. It was reported that the hiker may have suffered a ruptured quadriceps.

Due to the remote location of the rescue, MCSO SAR requested the assistance of the California Highway Patrol helicopter H-40. Despite the extreme heat at that elevation, crews were successful in landing in a nearby meadow. They located the patient and transported him to a regional hospital for treatment.

Later that same day, a 43-year-old woman from the Sacramento area was hiking around Thousand Island Lake when she suffered a facial injury and had a possible concussion. Her group of 3 other hikers navigated their way southbound on the Middle Fork SJR Trail to obtain phone service and request medical help from Madera County Search and Rescue crews.

CHP H-40 was once again requested by MCSO SAR to assist on this rescue. The H-40 crew was able to locate and hoist the patient to the helicopter and transport her to Mammoth Hospital for treatment.

Sheriff Tyson Pogue states, “Complex medical aid calls in remote locations such as these require teamwork and efficiency to successfully accomplish. We are grateful for the wonderful working relationship we have with our regional partners, and thank all of the responding crews for their efforts.”

Source & photo: Madera County Sheriff's Office