Mountain Biker Rescued After Falling From Cliff at China Camp

By Bay City News Service:

A 53-year-old mountain biker was rescued by helicopter Sunday afternoon after he fell down a cliff at China Basin State Park in Marin County.

At about 2:45 p.m. the crew of Sonoma County Sheriff's helicopter Henry 1 was dispatched to conduct a long-line rescue at China Camp State Park, Sonoma County sheriff's Lt. Mark Essick said.

The rescue crew onboard the helicopter received word that the mountain biker had gone off of a trail and fallen down a steep hillside, Essick said.

About a half hour after being dispatched, the helicopter crew arrived at the park and began searching the heavily wooded area for the victim. The crew soon spotted a group of people on a trail waving at the helicopter, signaling the location of the victim, according to Essick.

Henry 1's pilot landed the helicopter in a parking lot where a San Rafael fire paramedic was waiting to assist in the rescue operation.

The pilot and a sheriff's deputy attached a 100-foot rope to the belly of the aircraft. The deputy and the paramedic were flown back to the victim and lowered to the group of bystanders, the lieutenant said.

The paramedic and the deputy were led to the mountain biker who had fallen about 100 yards down a steep embankment from the trail. The man had suffered traumatic injuries as a result of the fall, Essick said.

Emergency care was given to the victim and with the help of several bystanders, San Rafael firefighters and California State Park personnel, the victim was placed in a traverse stretcher.

Using a 200-foot long line the victim was brought out of the woods with the deputy and paramedic. He was flown to an awaiting ambulance that transported him to a trauma facility, according to Essick.

 The extent of the victim's injuries has not been released.