[Update] Rope Swing Gone Wrong Near Confusion Hill

Friday, 12 June 2026, 2:00 pm Lisa Music 3 comments

Reach air ambulance [Photo by Malachi Church]

Reports of a man suffering a head injury after colliding with a tree on a rope swing near Confusion Hill in northern Mendocino County came in over the scanner Friday afternoon.

With temperatures climbing into the 90s and school out for summer, swimmers have been flocking to the South Fork of the Eel River to beat the heat. The incident was reported around 1:45 p.m. just south of Piercy.

Leggett Valley Fire Department, Piercy VFD,* CAL FIRE,* and a Garberville ambulance responded to the scene. Reach air ambulance stated they’d be on scene in approximately 33 minutes.

The extent of the man’s injuries was not immediately available.

Update 2:17 p.m.: First responders made contact with the patient across the river. A suspected cervical spine injury was reported; the helicopter, en route, stated an estimated 14-minute arrival.

Update: The patient was transported to the Redding area for medical treatment.

Note: This article was updated after publication to include two other responding agencies to the medical call just south of Piercy.