Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Location: Trail Canyon area, Los Padres National Forest, Ventura County , Ca
Victim: Blanchard, Hugh
City of residence: Glendale, Ca.
Age: about 70 years old

On 11-22-08, at approximately 1430 hours, the Ventura County Sheriff's Department’s rescue helicopter, Air Squad 9, was dispatched to Hungry Valley State Park for a vehicle accident. While responding to the incident, it was learned this was actually an injured hiker in the Trail Canyon area of the Los Padres National Forest. (Trail Canyon is near Hungry Valley and access to the location is only by motorcycle or hiking.)

Air Squad 9 arrived on scene and began a search for the victim in the area of Piru Creek and Trail Canyon. During the search, possible GPS coordinates were obtained from State Park Rangers. The victim was located shortly afterward at the base of a waterfall near the Castaic Mine. He was with several friends who were hiking with him and who called 911.

Due to the remote location of the victim Air Squad 9 could not land and had to hoist down the paramedic and crew chief. Once at the victim, it was discovered that the victim, Hugh Blanchard, was hiking with his friends when he fell approximately 50 feet. Blanchard sustained severe injuries as a result of the fall and was unconscious. The Sheriff’s Department’s paramedic and crew chief treated Blanchard, placed him on a backboard and then into a litter. With the help of Blanchard’s friends, he was moved to a location where he could be hoisted into the copter.

Air Squad 9 flew into position and completed the hoist rescue of Blanchard. He was flown to Simi Valley Hospital where his care was transferred to the waiting hospital staff.