DRAMATIC RESCUE AT MILDRED FALLS

April 24, 2011 (Julian) – San Diego Sheriff’s ASTREA 12 helicopter conducted a hoist rescue late this afternoon for a victim who fell 30 feet, suffered injuries and became trapped between rocks at the base of Mildred Falls near Julian.

At 3:50 p.m., the helicopter was called by Monte Vista Dispatch to assist with the rescue. ASTREA 12, a hoist rescue helicopter, arrived on scene at 4:08 p.m. and found the victim wedged between rocks at the base of the falls.

“The base of the falls is located in a box canyon and there were high winds in the area when ASTREA 12 arrived,” said Cpl. Tony Weber, ASTREA pilot. “ASTREA 12 had to fly halfway up the canyon then turn the helicopter back into the wind. At that point, the helicopter had to be hovered backwards up the canyon to keep the nose of the helicopter pointed into the wind. Once we arrived over the victim, all 250 feet of available hoist cable had to be used to get the rescue specialist to the victim on the ground.”

The victim had a broken ankle and a rib injuries after falling 30 feet off rocks at the base of the falls. According to Cp. Weber, the victim was packaged in a “screamer suit” and hoisted 130 feet up to the helicopter with the ASTREA rescue specialist.

ASTREA flew the victim to the top of Midred Falls and handed him off to Cal Fire medics.

Mildred Falls, a popular destination for hikers and rock climbers, was the scene of a fatality earlier this year when a climber fell and became tangled in his rope, dangling under water pouring from the falls.