PALM DESERT: Victim airlifted after suffering medical emergency while hiking

PALM DESERT — A hiker suffering from a medical emergency and was airlifted from a remote desert hiking trail earlier this afternoon. The incident happened on the Living Desert Hiking Trail, near the Living Desert Reserve on the 47000 block of Portola Avenue, in Palm Desert.

Emergency first responders were dispatched to the area shortly before 1:30 p.m., after receiving reports of a person suffering an unspecified emergency while hiking in difficult terrain on the rural trail, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire spokesperson April Newman explained in an incident report.

Eighteen firefighters from one engine company and one truck Company responded to the scene, according to Newman. They were assisted by a Paramedic Squad and a helitender

When fire personnel and other officials arrived, they located the victim about one and one half miles from the starting point of the trail, Newman explained. Based on the terrain and location of the victim, fire officials summoned a helicopter to the scene to assist with the rescue.

Cal Fire’s Helicopter 901 arrived in the area about 3 p.m. and landed in the area, where waiting paramedics helped load the person onto Copter 901. The victim was then airlifted to an area hospital for further evaluation and treatment.

No further information or updates regarding the victim were readily available.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor 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, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.