Cliff rescue Muir Beach
March 23rd, 2009 | Published in In the News, Rescue
KGO’s Sky 7 happened to be in the area when the Henry 1 crew was called in for the rescue of two hikers stuck on a cliff above Muir Beach in Marin County.
View clip >> Muir Beach Cliff Rescue
Sonoma County Sheriff’s Press Release
On March 23, 2009 at approximately 5:30 PM the Sonoma County Sheriff’s helicopter, “Henry’1″ responded to Muir Beach to assist first responders with a cliff rescue. Two men, 21-year-old Eron Klein of Oakland and 22-year-old Patrick Lanza from New York became stuck half way up a 500-foot cliff between the beach and Highway 1. A third companion managed to climb all the way to the top. The men were trying to climb back up the steep cliff to their vehicle but became stuck when the hillside began to crumble away beneath them.
The stuck men were not visible from the top to passing motorists or responding emergency personnel and were above a remote, rocky shoreline far from any other people. Lanza had a cell phone and was able to call for help. Klein was holding on to a rock with his feet dangling over the side of the cliff and was not able to move. Both were in a dangerous spot and would have died had they slipped on the steep cliff.
Henry-1 arrived and spotted the two men on the cliff. They then landed on top of the bluff and set up for a long line rescue. Sgt. Eric Thomson was tied into the end of a 100-foot rope with the other end attached to the belly of the helicopter. Pilot Paul Bradley flew the helicopter with Thomson suspended directly to the victims. Thomson grabbed Klein first and quickly placed a rescue collar around him, then flew with him back to the top of the cliff. This was repeated for Lanza next.
The long line rescue method used by Henry-1 is extremely quick and accurate. Both men were rescued in a matter of minutes from the time the helicopter landed on scene. Neither man sustained any injuries. Both victims thanked the Sheriff’s Department stating, “You saved my life”.
Video of the rescue was taken by local media, a news helicopter, and from inside Henry-1. Check the website soon for footage.
CR# 090323-033
