Horse and rider that spent two nights trapped after 150 foot fall into canyon rescued
The Riverside County Sheriff’s aviation crew skillfully brings Cody in for a feather soft landing. Loudlabs News image
An Anza resident and his horse were rescued Monday, Aug. 29 after spending two “chilly” nights stuck in a ravine after they plummeted about 150 feet from the Spitler Peak Trail Saturday, Aug. 27.
Thomas Firth, 66, and his horse Cody, became trapped when a rugged trail they and others were travelling on in the San Jacinto Mountains gave way, causing them to drop down into the steep canyon below.
A mule fell with them but was able to find its way back up to the trail on its own. The mule was slightly injured in the fall, which caused some swelling to its legs and left it a bit “skinned up,” according to a veterinarian who responded to the scene.
When the fall happened, Firth and Cody were with two other friends, a second horse and five mules. The group had been delivering 40 gallons of water to U.S. Forest Service workers repairing trails damaged by the 2013 Mountain Fire. They were about 3.5 miles up the trail when the accident happened.
Captain Tyler Reynolds discusses the technical and dangerous rescue operation. Loudlabs News image
Captain Tyler Reynolds of the Riverside Fire Department, the Rescue Group Supervisor, talked about the dangerous and technical rescue operation needed to successfully rescue Firth and Cody from the steep and rugged canyon.
“The horse and rider went down a steep embankment around noon Saturday. They did not call 911 until Sunday when they realized they could not get out of that steep terrain without help.”
“What we found was a horse and rider down in steep terrain that was only accessible by helicopter,” Reynolds explained.
Although authorities were notified Sunday morning about the emergency, due to Sunday’s heat an immediate rescue wasn’t possible. “The rescue was postponed and we started the actual rescue at 6 am Monday,” Reynolds explained.
Thomas Firth (pictured center with camouflage jacket) walks back to his friends and family after being rescued from the side of a steep mountain. Loudlabs News image
When Firth was rescued from the ravine and flown to waiting rescue teams, paramedics, and family, he declined to be rolled on a gurney to a waiting ambulance. In spite of his long and harrowing ordeal he chose to walk the few hundred yards from the helicopter to waiting emergency personnel, friends and family.
Once Firth was dropped off, the sheriff’s helicopter took off again, with the much more difficult mission of safely extricating Cody from the ravine.
After a brief examination, Firth – looking a bit dirty and tired but none the worse for the wear – stood patiently by his wife Cathy Haun Firth, 66, and friends as rescue crews worked to bring the horse to safety.
While waiting for Cody’s safe return, Firth compared his fall from the trail into the canyon below to a skydiver jumping out of an airplane without a parachute. “The fall wasn’t so bad; it was that sudden stop at the end,” Firth quipped.
Thomas Firth, 66, of Anza discusses his three-day ordeal stuck in a ravine with his horse, Cody. Loudlabs News image
Firth also joked about all the wild Grizzly bears he had to fend off during his nearly 48-hour ordeal, but he admitted the worst part for him was not knowing exactly what was happening with the rescue efforts.
Firth said he was brought updates when his son, stepson and grandson hiked the nearly four miles where he and Cody were stuck to bring him supplies such as a sleeping bag, blanket, lamp, and other essentials.
“The worst thing for me was not knowing, because there was no communication. I couldn’t get out on the phone and we had no radios,” Firth explained. “I knew something was in the works. But not knowing exactly what, that was the biggest concern for me.”
Other than the not knowing, Firth said the most difficult part during his ordeal was the long evenings. “I was a little chilly on the first night…but at night, I couldn’t sleep because the horse wanted to go,” Firth said. “Physically, he wasn’t going to go anywhere – but into trouble. So I invented some new swear words for him at night.”
Rescuers rush to assist Cody to the ground after he was plucked from the side of a steep ravine. Loudlabs News image
Firth said that while his adventure was nothing like a camping trip, it wasn’t all bad. One of the highlights during his ordeal happened when he was brought a thermos of hot coffee and a breakfast burrito on his second morning stuck in the canyon. Also, one of Firth’s friends and his dog “Mutt” spent Saturday night in the ravine with him.
In spite of his obvious relief at being back on solid ground with his wife and concerned friends, Firth could not relax until Cody was safely back with him from the ravine.
Before Cody’s rescue, John Welsh, spokesman for the Riverside County Department of Animal Services, said, “The horse seemed to be very stable. Per the vet our main concern is dehydration. It’s just in a location that’s going to be hard to get out of, and it might have some soreness afterwards.”
After Cody had been plucked from the mountainside and was being brought to waiting vets and other emergency personnel, Reynolds explained the difficulty of his rescue.
Cody can be see laying on the ground after he was flown out of the steep ravine where he and Thomas Firth spent nearly 48 hours. Loudlabs News image
“The horse was sedated by a veterinarian,” Reynolds explained. “During transport that is mandatory procedure prior to lifting by helicopter so the horse remains calm.
As the Riverside Sheriff’s aviation unit came into view, with Cody slung well below the helicopter, Firth could not contain his smile. The sheriff’s aviation crew managed to expertly set the sedated horse down, without so much as a bump.
Although Cody was initially very groggy after his sedated flight out of the rugged canyon, he was quickly back up. He was clearly a bit wobbly on his feet at first, but the horse began looking much better as the sedatives used for safely transporting him wore off.
According to a veterinarian on scene, the more than 800 pound horse was expected to survive despite dehydration.
Cody’s first few steps as he was standing up were a bit wobbly, as he was still under the effects of the sedative. Loudlabs News
Riverside County sheriff’s deputies, Riverside PD Mounted Posse members, Riverside Fire personnel, Riverside County Animal Control officers and the City of Riverside’s newly formed Horse Animal Rescue Team assisted in the technical hoist and dangerous rescue operation. The horse was brought to safety by about 10 a.m. Monday.
“(HART) is a very young unit that hasn’t been around a long time but today was a successful rescue of a horse that needed to be plucked out of a very remote area out here near Lake Hemet,” Welsh explained. “Luckily we had the skilled pilots from (Riverside Sheriff’s Department) here along with many others to help us with a successful rescue.”
“A great amount of resources came together,” according to Reynolds. “It was great for the community, great for the family of the rider, and great for all the horse lovers.”
Within minutes of being dropped off after his rescue, Cody was up and looking much better Loudlabs News
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For information about obtaining video footage of this incident, contact Loudlabs News
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, Personnel and Background Investigations and he finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator.
Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 10 (soon to be 12) grandchildren.
Great article
Well covered
Professional
Always enjoy your work
Amazed they weren’t hurt, badly. Thank you all that helped.
Wow, I’m glad they both survived that fall. What an ordeal. But country people are definitely a tougher character. We take things like this much better .
I hope Tom and Cody are well fed and enjoying this weekend.
That was a great story .
I know it is semantics, but could you describe the horse as being “anesthetized” instead of “sedated?” I have a hard enough time with clients that don’t want their horses sedated for veterinary care without them thinking about this incorrect description.
This was a great team effort to bring the horse to safety. Bravo!
Well written article that kept me glued to each word. Thank you. Kudos to the technical large animal team that made this rescue a success. How does a person thank these professionals enough!
I worked for Riverside Unit and am most proud of this amazing rescue. Good job folks! Miss the
RRU action!
What an amazing story and for both the horse and rider to be able to walk after rescue is nothing short of God’s amazing blessing! Thank you, to everyone involved in this remarkable rescue! You did an incredible job?
Thank you for taking such excellent emergency care for the horse Cody and the rider, Firth.
So delighted to hear this adventure disaster had an happy ending. Very proud of the rescue team and family. Many thanks again! May GOD bless you all.