Injured hiker on San Ysidro trail rescued by helicopter hoist Wednesday

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – A 77-year-old hiker was transported off of the San Ysidro trail by helicopter Wednesday after falling 45 feet into a creek and a fellow hiker texted in the emergency.

First responders with Montecito Fire and Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue were called to the scene around 12:25 p.m. Wednesday after a female hiker came across an injured male hiker about two miles up the San Ysidro trail shared the Montecito Fire Department.

The woman texted her husband via satellite from the scene and asked him to contact emergency responders explained the Montecito Fire Department.

According to Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue, the 77-year-old hiker had slipped off the trail and fallen about 45 feet into the creek below where he suffered serious injuries.

Santa Barbara County Air Support Unit Helicopter 308 arrived at the scene and lowered two medics to where the hiker had fallen and they tended to his injures before preparing him to be hoisted by the waiting helicopter detailed Santa Barbara County Search and Rescue.

The helicopter then conducted a successful hoist operation before taking the injured man to Cottage Hospital for further medical treatment noted the Montecito Fire Department.