Emergency Personnel Battle Rising Tide, Rugged Landscape, and Thick Fog to Save Fall Victim

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Diana Totten, Incident Commander for the final part of the rescue, oversees the patient being settled into the helicopter.

On Saturday, April 18, a small group of hikers and dozens of emergency personnel including two helicopters worked desperately against an incoming tide, darkness, and heavy fog to save a man critically injured in a fall on the remote and rugged Lost Coast Trail between the mouth of the Mattole River and Shelter Cove.

At 7:12 P.M.  emergency personnel responded to a call from hikers who had discovered a fall victim with multiple fractures along the Lost Coast Trail near the beach at Miller Flat, about 8 miles north of the small coastal town of Shelter Cove. Several volunteer fire departments and Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue quickly gathered the proper equipment and began heading towards the incident.

“With the description of the injuries the man had sustained, we knew we needed to move quickly to get him to a high level of care,” explained Diana Totten, spokesperson for Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue (SHTR).

“We knew this would take a lot of manpower,” she said.  “The Lost Coast is very rugged and nighttime was coming on. We needed all hands on deck to do the rescue safely.”

Meanwhile, the Emergency Command Center of Cal Fire continued maintaining contact with the people that were with the victim. A small group of hikers had discovered the victim towards evening. With the incoming tide, they knew the victim couldn’t stay where he was. Soon waves would be breaking over where he had been found.The hikers built a makeshift litter and packed the victim to higher ground. There they stabilized his injuries as best they could with items they had on hand. They even splinted some of his broken bones.

“They saved his life,” said Totten. “They came across a man that was severely injured. They dropped everything they were doing and, realizing he was in imminent danger, they made a makeshift stretcher and were able to pack him to higher ground just as the tide was reaching him.”

Totten spoke highly of the hikers’ efforts. “Without a lot of medical supplies, they treated him,” she said. They were good about giving directions on where they were. They built a fire to keep him warm. They were the beginning of saving his life.”

Rescuers quickly developed and put into place several rescue plans so that if one was unable to be carried, out another would already be in motion. Reports from the side of the injured man worried medical personnel.

The first plan was that a Coast Guard helicopter would fly in to the area to pick up the injured man. “One of the quickest and safest way to rescue someone in this kind of rugged terrain is a Coast Guard helicopter,” Totten explained. However, when the Coast Guard arrived, Totten said, “it was foggy and the helicopter couldn’t achieve the rescue at that time.”

Another plan involved trying to reach the victim by driving up the beach with a special 6 wheeled ATV. Cheryl Anthony of Shelter Cove Fire Department said, “We had the patient’s friend, who was the one who called 911, with us in the station.  She had dropped him off at the beginning of the trail earlier in the day, and was at Black Sands Beach to pick him up, but he texted her that he was injured, so that’s how it all started.”

Anthony’s crew started maneuvering the 6-wheeled ATV north from Black Sands Beach. “But the fog was so dense it was like raining on us,” explained Anthony. “On top of that, the tide was coming in and so when darkness was also added, it was impossible to get far enough up the beach.  Our guys ran across slides, boulders, etc. and finally had to turn around. They were so disappointed.”

The Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue team (SHTR) under the command of Chief Kai Ostrow developed a plan to reach the victim by ground. The rescue team responded to the Smith-Etter Road which is a 4-wheel drive road currently closed for the winter season that allows access through the King Range to the beach at Spanish Flat.

Once the approximately 10 crew members reached the beach there, they began hiking almost 10 miles south to the side of the victim. By this time it was dark, a heavy fog smothered the beach and high tide pushed the ocean up against the cliffs. In addition, the crews needed to carry several hundred pounds of rescue equipment and medical supplies with them. “There were times that the rescue involved getting very close to the water and doing it safely. The danger level was very, very high,” Totten said. “These are all volunteers who had all missed supper on a Saturday night to go hiking on the rugged Lost Coast to save someone who had an accident,” she added.

Eventually, the crews reached the wounded man’s side. The EMT’s with the crew had better medical equipment were able to relay a better description of the man’s injuries to medical personnel. Totten said, the crew on site realized that with the man’s injuries “they realized that they needed to expedite getting the patient out as rapidly as they could.”

However, because of the high tide it was virtually impossible to move him. Nonetheless, the crew did the impossible. They packed the victim with specialized medical equipment and hauled him to an area that that at the time wasn’t foggy in hopes that a helicopter crew could gather him from that area.

“We tried to get the rescue helicopter from the Coast Guard back but by the time they arrived from Arcata the fog had rolled back in,” Totten explained. “They did heroic efforts but, with the fog and weather conditions, they were unable to achieve the rescue.”

At that time, Totten said, “we realized we would have to pack the victim to where we could reach him with ATV’s or some sort of vehicle.”

By 2 A.M., the crews with the victim were exhausted. Rescue Chief Kai Ostrow requested additional ground forces to help pack the patient from Miller Flat back to Spanish Flat. Shelter Cove Fire set their 6-wheeled ATV through Smith-Etter Road. Crew members from Petrolia Fire and Honeydew Fire Shelter Cove Fire, and Telegraph Ridge Fire responded.

“These people hiked up the beach to help pack the patient,” said Totten. “The specialized ATV was able to make access to where the emergency crews were packing the victim. The ATV was able to expedite the transport of the patient to an awaiting medivac helicopter on Kinsey Ridge.”

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As the sun rises, the helicopter pilot was able to land in a small area on a ridge top nearby so the patient could be transferred to an out-of -the-area hospital.

“I think our community will be proud to know that while they were home asleep, well-trained firefighters and rescue personnel were achieving a successful and very complex rescue on one of the most rugged stretches of coast in the world,” said Totten. “Their professionalism and courage saved a life.”

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Rescue crews hike back along the Lost Coast Trail in thick early morning fog.

Totten said there were many people behind the scenes supporting the crews that were on site. “The Emergency Command Center in Fortuna I can’t say enough about them,” she said. “Doing these kind of rescues aren’t a typical every day thing and they were right there troubleshooting every inch of the way….People were up all night supporting us with communication links and the ATV that Shelter Cove has is absolutely incredible.”

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As dawn breaks, emergency personnel hike–wet, tired and hungry–through the rugged and beautiful landscape of the Lost Coast.

Stressing that the Lost Coast is lovely, Totten also wanted to point out that people needed to be careful how they approached the area. “The Lost Coast is an absolutely rugged and beautiful place and yet over the years we’ve seen a lot of tragedies there, too. Hikers, campers, and tidepoolers need to take proper precautions,” she warned.

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Vehicles in sight, the volunteers know their long night is ending.

“On my behalf I want to say that each firefighter is so awesome,” she added. “They worked through the night. It would have been about 16 hours before they got home after putting their gear together.”

Totten stressed that they don’t get paid, “This is what we do for free. And by doing fundraising–putting on dances and BBQ’s–we pay for the equipment so if you are supporting the fundraising you are helping with the rescues.”

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Some of the many people who worked on this incident–shown are members of Shelter Cove, Petrolia, Telegraph Ridge, and Honeydew Fire Departments as well as members of Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue.

Earlier Chapter: Dramatic Rescue!

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26 Comments
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MOLA:42
Guest
MOLA:42
8 years ago

Blown away… just Blown Away.

I’m gratified that people like this exist. It gives hope to a cynical man who wonders where the world is heading to.

All I can say is; after all that work… that injured guy just better get healthy soon.

Walker
Guest
Walker
8 years ago

Wow this is an amazing rescue! Much respect to all of the people and departments involved!

Eastside
Guest
Eastside
8 years ago

Great story Kym. I am so impressed with everyone involved with the rescue . You all rock !! I will be sure to donate at the next fundraiser. Not only do they donate they’re time to rescue, they also donate they’re time to trash cleanup. An AWSOME group.

Eastside
Guest
Eastside
8 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Me too!!

eurekajim
Guest
eurekajim
8 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

You aren’t the only one.
Great Story.

Johan
Guest
Johan
8 years ago

wow. Amazing effort. I hope they bill this person who went hiking alone. No such thing as accidents.

ShewhoFlys
Guest
8 years ago

So proud of y’all! from a new WFR. Got an idea of what it took

Old Head
Guest
Old Head
8 years ago

Outstanding! Big ups to all involved!

Stephanie
Guest
Stephanie
8 years ago

It’s been ten years since our dear one, Matteo Ekedal, died out there in that area. I am so happy to see how far rescue has come since that time. He died but not in vain, it would seem, now that this has been achieved, and it is a wonderful thing. People working together to save lives! Thank you to you all!

Felipe
Guest
Felipe
8 years ago

Who the fuck pays for all this?

Felipe
Guest
Felipe
8 years ago
Reply to  Felipe

Who pays for all these heroes?

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
Ernie Branscomb
8 years ago
Reply to  Felipe

For the most part, the personel on the ground are volunteers. Do you want to join? You would start out getting paid as much as all the rest.

As a side note, I worked with the Redway fire dept. For 39 years as a firefighter / medical first responder. It was one of the most rewarding things that I have ever done. I miss it deeply.

Jeremy Wallace
Guest
Jeremy Wallace
8 years ago
Reply to  Felipe

Fundraisers, small parcel taxes and our own blood sweat and tears. These are the men and women you’d trust your child with.

Uti
Guest
Uti
8 years ago

The Telegraph Ridge Volunteers are having their fundraising BBQ this coming Sunday 4/29 at the Ettersburg School from 1-6pm. This would be a good time to come out for some great food and music and to show your appreciation to the people who come out in the middle of the night to help with rescues like this one.

Jeremy Wallace
Guest
Jeremy Wallace
8 years ago
Reply to  Uti

Thanks for the plug Uti but the TRVFD fundraiser is sunday the 26th. Be there or be square everyone. If someone can’t make it donations are always accepted by YOUR local volunteer fire crew. Man I love this place 🙂

Sunsong
Guest
Sunsong
8 years ago

This brings back both painful and sweet memories of the search for my step-son Matteo Ekedal in 2014 in the same area. Diana headed the search and Kai (along with many other extended ‘family’ members) was there as well. This search was done over many days (but without success). But when, a year later, human bones were found the skull retrieved by hikers in a practically inaccessible canyon, Diana was there again doing her best with a team of others in difficult conditions to collect the rest so the family could have whatever peace this might bring. The work these people do is invaluable, as is the depth of care for others which drives it.

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N Judah
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N Judah
8 years ago

Great story, Kym. Thanks for highlighting the valiant efforts of these fine folks. They saved his life through their teamwork and tenacity. They’ve shown us what amazing feats can be accomplished when people link arms and work together. Bravo!

Chanteusie
Guest
Chanteusie
8 years ago

Wow! Great story, Kym. Thanks–I needed this.

Kim
Guest
Kim
8 years ago

Wow! Great job all!

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[…] and weekends to save you.  Just recently, the whole North Coast learned of the incredible rescue by multiple volunteers who united to save one man running the Lost Coast Trail. Five Telegraph Ridge Volunteers were part […]

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[…] survivor of one of the most dramatic rescues in Southern Humboldt history just drove all the way from Sacramento to support the crew who helped […]