Dehydrated Mountain Biker Rescued on Tunnel Trail

Santa Barbara- May 4th, 2010

At approximately 4:30 pm Tuesday afternoon May 4, 2010, emergency personnel from Santa Barbara County Search & Rescue, County Fire and AMR Ambulance responded for a report of a dehydrated mountain biker located on Tunnel Trail. 

Two subjects were riding their mountain bikes on Tunnel Trail when one started to experience the effects of dehydration and heat exhaustion.  Unable to continue, his companion used his cell phone and called 911 for assistance. 

After talking with the subjects, Search and Rescue was able to sufficiently determine where they were to direct SAR and Fire units to them.  Based on the calculated coordinates, County Fire Copter 309 was directed to the area and located the subjects on the Tunnel Trail approximately 1/3 of the way down from East Camino Cielo. 

A Fire Medic was lowered and, along with SAR personnel on scene, determined the dehydrated subject should be flown out rather than risk further injury by hiking or carrying him out.  Copter 309 then transported the subject to Santa Barbara Airport where he was met and evaluated by AMR medics and released.  SAR personnel then hiked the other subject along with their bikes out and concluded all operations at 6:30 pm.

For more information relating to this incident contact Nelson Trichler at (805) 698-0752 or visit www.sbcsar.org for information about the team.

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