Late Sunday morning, March 17, 2019, San Bernardino County
Fire requested assistance from San Bernardino County Sheriff Aviation in the
search and rescue of an injured hiker in the Mount Baldy area.
At approximately 11:28 A.M. San
Bernardino County Sheriff Deputies from the Fontana Station with the 40King #1,
the Sheriff’s patrol helicopter responded to the incident of a search for the
injured victim who was being assisted by another hiker.
The
San Bernardino County Sheriff Search
& Rescue Team were going to attempt to hike to the warming hut and wait
for medical personnel. There were numerous hikers in the area and nobody
appeared to be injured or waving for help to the helicopter.
Air Rescue 306
arrived in the area and based on the information about the warming hut, decided
to lower a medic to contact subjects at the warming hut. Once the medic was on
the ground, he advised Air Rescue 306
the injured hiker was approximately 30 minutes from the warming hut and could
make it safely.
Once the victim arrived at the
warming hut the medic placed him into a rescue harness.
The
injured hiker was identified as David Valino, age 52, is a resident
of Glendale, California. Air Rescue 306 hovered above the victim and hoisted him to the
helicopter followed by the medic. The victim had non-life threatening injuries
and was transported to an ambulance at Cal Canyon.