SUCCESSFUL RESCUE OF BOY

This morning at 11:21 a 911 emergency call was received reporting a 10 year boy was in a canyon and had his right foot trapped under a boulder. The call was in the area of North Lake Wolford Rd and Ahern Ranch Rd.

Valley Center Battalion Chief 3317, Engine-73, Medic-73, San Pasqual Reservation 6711, Brush 67, and the San Diego County Sheriffs were dispatched to a Rescue call by CALFIRE to the reported location.

First on scene, San Diego County sheriffs’ found the boy and his father about 300’ down a steep canyon. They reported to Fire and Paramedics that a boulder weighing approximately 500 lbs was on top of the boys left ankle. The three sheriffs and the boys Dad were able to move the boulder off the ankle.

Paramedics made access to the patient and conducted an evaluation. They determined that the boy had a possible fracture of right ankle, so they stabilized the ankle in a splint. Because of the remote location and steepness of the hillside, Incident commander Nick Bishop assigned Engine 73, Engine 6711 and Brush 67 to set up a Rope Rescue system and the boy was hauled up to the top of the hill.

The initial contact with the patient happened within 5 minutes, but because of the complexity of extrication from the canyon, the incident lasted nearly 2 hours.

After talking with the paramedics, the boy’s parents chose to take him to hospital themselves rather than by ambulance.

After the Rescue was completed Fire crews took a quick break and hydration and were back in service.