MONTEREY, CA – A 300-pound hiker’s desperate battle for survival in California’s Ventana Wilderness ended only after a 16-hour, physically demanding rescue mission. On Sunday night, the hiker, who had become too ill to continue his trek, required help from a team of search and rescue volunteers who braved steep, rugged trails to bring him to safety.
At around 8 p.m. on Sunday, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team received a distress call from a 20-year-old hiker who had become ill and was too weak to hike back out.
Challenges Along the Way
Six search and rescue volunteers immediately set out on foot to reach the patient, making their way across over 16 miles of steep, uneven trails. Upon locating the hiker, they were able to stabilize him and prepare him for extraction.
However, moving him out of the wilderness was no easy feat. The terrain slowed their progress, and the manpower available was limited.
As the rescue operation continued, rain began to fall early Monday morning, adding another layer of difficulty to the already strenuous task.
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By Monday, the hiker was safely extracted from the wilderness and received medical care.
Monterey County Search and Rescue expressed their gratitude for the combined efforts of all the agencies involved: “Your efforts saved a life, and we are deeply grateful,” they said.