On 2-20-10 at about 1:52 pm, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Helicopter Unit “Henry-1″ was dispatched to a subject in distress in the ocean.  A friend of the victim drove to Fort Ross State Park and reported to State Parks Rangers that the subject was a fisherman and had fallen off a rock into the sea.  The friend led rangers back up to the area of just south of Horseshoe Cove in the Salt Point State Beach area, nearly nine miles away.

The Henry-1 flight crew, piloted by Paul Bradley, arrived in the Horseshoe Cove area just as State Parks Rangers and lifeguards arrived back on scene.  The Henry-1 crew spotted a subject face down in the ocean about 100 yards off shore.  The subject was fully clothed and was still wearing a backpack. The subject had been in the water for about an hour.

Henry-1 paramedic, Scott Westrope, recovered the body of an adult Asian male from the surf via 100-foot long-line attached to the helicopter. The subject was deceased. The body was turned over to deputies and rangers on-scene. The case will be turned over to the Sonoma County Coroner’s Office.

About a half an hour later, the Henry-1 crew was summoned back to the same cove for a friend of the previous drowning victim, who was displaying altered level of consciousness and signs of medical distress.  The Henry-1 crew was lowered to this patient atop a remote rocky bluff by 100-foot long-line. This subject was transported via long-line to awaiting ground medics who took over patient care.

The subject of the earlier press release, Deborah Keehn, has just been located in an area near the point last seen off of West Dry Creek Rd. She was located by the Sheriff’s Helicopter crew who were conducting a search of the wooded area along a nearby creek.

Ground units were directed to her location by the helicopter and she was walked out to a waiting ambulance.  Initial reports indicate she was wet, cold and confused with no other apparent injuries.  She was to be taken to an area hospital for further evaluation.

On 02/14/2010, at approximately 1233 hours, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Helicopter Henry 1 responded to Laurel Del Trail near Alpine Lake, Marin County, to assist the Marin County Fire Department with an injured hiker.

It was initially reported a female hiker had fallen and injured her ankle, however her exact location was unknown. Henry 1 arrived on scene and located the victim in a wooded canyon near a waterfall.

Henry 1 landed nearby and set up for a 200 foot long line rescue. Pilot Paul Bradley flew Paramedic Scott Westrope and Tactical Flight Officer, Deputy Debbie Little, on the bottom of the line to the victim.

After assessing the victim’s injuries, it was determined the victim needed to be flown out of the canyon to the ambulance that was staging along the highway nearby.

The victim was then transported by ground ambulance to local hospital.

In this particular image [click to enlarge] from winter training, we can see the rescuer pointing in the direction he wants the pilot to take him. If you look closely, you can make out someone’s head at the crest of the wave. That’s a lifeguard.

Tough rescuers in their own right and recipients of numerous awards for heroism, the California State Parks lifeguards in Sonoma County occasionally throw themselves into heavy surf so the H1 crew can practice their ‘picks’.

Rescuing someone from a stationary cliff is relatively easy compared to chasing someone around inside an ill-tempered washing machine. One second they’re there and then they’re not.

The pilot has to position the aircraft quickly and continually, but still maintain control of the rescuer at the end of the rope. Awareness of the wave sets and timing are crucial because you don’t want to drop the rescuer into the path of a wave or expose both the rescuer and the victim to the face of a wave on the pull out.

When physical contact is made with the victim, the rescuer has little time to gain control, secure the victim, and signal the pilot to fly clear before 65 lbs/ft³ of liquid scenery crashes on top of them.

On those days, the days even surfers decide that discretion is the better part of valor, you just might find the H1 crew and state park lifeguards honing the skills of their trade.

Send your photos to henry1photo[at]yahoo[dot]com. Be sure to include your first and last name so we can credit the photo and – if you can – tell us where the photo was taken and any other background information you want to provide.  If you don’t want to use your real name, we’re happy to use an alias instead.

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