On Saturday afternoon, March 22nd, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay was requested by the Shelter Cove Fire Department Duty Officer regarding a hiker stranded on a cliff near Miller Flat in the King Range National Conservation Area.
With no safe land access, the Shelter Cove Fire Department Ocean Rescue Team deployed a rescue boat and jet ski with four rescue swimmers, locating the victims approximately eight miles north of Shelter Cove.
Upon reaching shore, rescue swimmers found two hikers stranded 75-100 feet above the beach on a near-vertical landslide. One hiker had fallen and was unable to move up or down, making it unsafe for rescuers to access him by land.
Working in coordination with Shelter Cove rescuers on the ground, the U.S. Coast Guard helicopter from Air Station Humboldt Bay arrived on the scene and conducted two complex high-angle hoist rescues.
Each victim was safely airlifted and transported to awaiting ambulances at the Shelter Cove Airport for medical evaluation.
