On September 22, 2018, at approximately 5:20 p.m., San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Aviation responded to a report of an injured paraglider in the Lytle Creek area. The injured paraglider who reportedly launched her glider from the ridgeline and immediately experienced strong, gusty winds, which caused one side of her glider to collapse. The victim lost control of the glider and ended up colliding into the hillside, not far from the departure site.
She suffered extensive injuries, however she managed to call 911 for help.
Sheriff’s personnel assigned to the aviation unit made phone contact with the victim and she provided the GPS location using her cellular device. A Sheriff’s patrol helicopter crew responded to the incident and immediately located her in tall brush at the exact coordinates. Due to the remote location and extent of injury, it was determined a hoist was necessary to rescue the victim from the hillside. Sheriff’s rescue helicopter Air Rescue 6 responded to the location and rigged up for a hoist rescue.
A rescue medic was lowered 165 feet from the helicopter to the ground. The medic assessed the victim for injuries and secured her into a rescue basket. She was hoisted up and into the helicopter, followed by the medic, and flown to a local trauma center for treatmen