AGUANGA, CA — A Riverside County hiker fell ill Friday while trekking in the hills west of Aguanga, prompting fire crews to mount a rescue operation with the aid of a sheriff’s helicopter.
At 12:30 p.m., Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department dispatch received a “hiker down” call. The hiker was traversing Dripping Springs Trail near the Vail Lake Campground when they became unable to walk, a spokesperson for Riverside County Fire Department said.
The agency said that the victim, whose identity was not disclosed, called 911, saying he was suffering from weakness and possibly dehydration.
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As of 1:30 p.m., the reported temperature in the area was 100 degrees.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s STAR-9 helicopter crew flew in to assist, conducting an aerial search of the trail. From below, paramedics aboard a wildland firefighting vehicle made their way toward where they believed the hiker was located, according to reports from the scene.
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The helicopter team airlifted the patient and flew him back to waiting medics at the Vail Lake campground parking area.
“Waiting medics evaluated the patient and determined he needed to taken to a nearby hospital for treatment,” Cal Fire spokesperson Rob Roseen told Patch. He was listed as in stable condition.
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