Helicopter hoists woman after fall in Hart Park foothills

Air-5 hoists fall victim from Hart Park foothills

This is a news release of the Kern County Sheriff's Office.

Details: On June 12, 2010 at approximately 1200 hours the Bakersfield Fire Department responded to a report of a mountain bicyclist down, with a possible ankle injury, on the walking/bicycle trails south of Hart Park, in an area of foothills known as Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. When firefighters arrived on scene, they discovered the 64-year-old female victim had fallen approximately 30 feet, and was complaining of neck, hip, and right arm pain.

The victim’s location was inaccessible by ambulance and difficult to navigate on foot. Firefighters requested Kern County Sheriff’s Office rescue helicopter Air-5 launch to the scene, to hoist the victim from her location, and deliver her to a location accessible by ground ambulance.

Air-5 arrived on scene within minutes and two deputy/EMT’s assisted firefighters with loading the victim into a rescue litter. The victim, accompanied by an Air-5 deputy/EMT, was hoisted from the trail to the helicopter overhead. The victim was then transported by Air-5 to the nearby parking lot of the California Living Museum where she was handed-off to Hall Ambulance personnel, for transport to a local hospital.