Hiker breaks ankle, is airlifted to safety

26 April 2004

Leah Etling

SANTA BARBARA:   An 18-year-old UCSB student was airlifted out of the Santa Barbara front country Sunday afternoon after suffering a broken ankle while hiking.

County fire personnel located the young man at the popular "Playground" area off of Camino Cielo Road. According to Capt. Charlie Johnson he was about two miles into rugged terrain and it would have been too difficult to carry him out.

A helicopter from Ventura County responded to the scene and the injured hiker was lifted up via winch and transported to Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital, where he was in good condition Sunday evening.

The Pasadena man’s identity was not released by the County Fire Department.