A 30-year-old man from San Bernardino was rescued near Angel Falls after falling off a trail, as reported by the Madera County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident occurred on Saturday, July 15, around 8:00 p.m., when the man slipped from the trail while hiking with friends. He fell about 30 feet and landed in the river at Angel Falls, suffering a broken left femur bone just above his knee.
On receiving the medical aid call, the technical rope rescue team arrived on the scene and initiated a high-angle rope rescue in the dark. The operation included ascending an approximately 30-foot vertical slope back to the trail.
The hiker was then transported to a regional hospital for treatment of his injuries. Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue expressed gratitude for the successful outcome of the challenging rescue and wished the hiker a speedy recovery.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of exercising extreme caution during outdoor activities, particularly at night. The Madera County Office of Emergency Services continues to urge both residents and visitors to stay safe during their outdoor ventures.