CHP helicopter rescues hiker stranded by Santa Lucia Creek near Arroyo Seco
By Ricardo Tovar
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MONTEREY COUNTY, Calif. (KSBW) — The California Highway Patrol Coastal Division Air Operations rescued a man who became stranded on one side of Santa Lucia Creek due to overnight storms Monday.
CHP’s Air Operations helicopter, H-70, was requested for a hiker stranded near the Arroyo Seco Trail. H-70 left the Paso Robles Air Base at about 10:36 a.m. under what CHP described as challenging weather conditions.
Santa Lucia Creek rose quickly after the storms, becoming impassable and leaving the hiker stranded on the opposite bank, unable to return to Arroyo Seco Campground, CHP said in a social media post.
The hiker, who had camped overnight with proper gear and had been monitoring conditions, reported the creek rose about 3 feet in a matter of hours, cutting off the route back.
The helicopter arrived at about 11:07 a.m. and quickly located the hiker.
A nearby landing zone was located, and the H-70 flight officer-paramedic escorted the person back to the helicopter. The hiker was flown to Arroyo Seco Campground, where CAL FIRE and AMR personnel were staged.
The hiker is expected to be OK.
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