Sheriff’s helicopter aids in woman’s rescue
July 3rd, 2009 | Published in In the News, Rescue
Sonoma County Sheriff’s Press Release
On 07/03/09 at approximately 1438 hours, the Sheriff’s Department’s “Henry-1″ helicopter flight crew was dispatched to 18000 Old Winery Rd. to assist in locating a 47-year old, suicidal female, whose vehicle was located in the winery parking lot. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed an empty prescription pill bottle that had been filled earlier in the day. Deputies from the Sonoma Valley Sheriff’s substation and the Sonoma Police Department also responded to the scene to assist in the search. The victim’s family members believed that the victim walked up into the hills to attempt suicide.
Once on scene, a search area was established based upon last know time of contact and terrain. After several minutes of searching, the victim’s family member located the victim in remote ravine. The family member got to a clearing and alerted the Henry-1 crew to their location. The victim was 350 yards off a heavily vegetated trail near a small pond. Deputies were guided down the steep ravine to the victim’s location on foot. Several deputies accessed the victim and began to carry the victim down a rocky creek bed to the clearing.
Henry-1 Pilot, Paul Bradley, landed on the main lawn of the winery and the helicopter was reconfigured for a long-line rescue. Pilot Bradley then flew Tactical Flight Officer (TFO) Fletcher Skerrett via a 100-foot long-line to the victim’s location and lowered him thru the open canopy of several large oak trees. The victim was unresponsive and in and out of consciousness.
Given the victim’s unknown medical condition, the possibility of a drug overdose, and the heat of the day, hiking/carrying the victim out of the canyon would have caused serious delays and would have resulted in exacerbating the victim’s worsening condition. The victim was secured to the long-line along with the TFO. In 30 seconds, they were both safely flown out of the canyon and back the winery lawn to awaiting paramedics from the Sonoma Valley Fire/Rescue Ambulance. Patient care was immediately turned over to Sonoma Fire and transported to a local hospital for further treatment.
Case# 090001258
