LAFD Calls Off Phantom Hiker Search
Posted by Daniel Antolin on Jul 25, 2011 - 4:56:07 PM
LAFD Helicopter Photo Courtesy of LAFD website
PACIFIC PALISADES—On Sunday, July 24, the Los Angeles Fire Department tweeted that its rescuers were unable to find a Topanga State Park hiker whose existence and distress remained in question when the search was called off.
A July 24 tweet at 6:55 p.m. by the LAFD states that they were utilizing helicopters and ground search teams to find the hiker near 1600 Via Las Palmas, which is about 12 miles southeast from the park's main entrance located at 20829 Entrada Drive.
A pay phone call reportedly alerted the LAFD to the hiker's predicament, but they could not call back to verify the information with the individual who provided the information. Details such as the hiker's gender, age and the exact nature of the complaint were not reported by this person.
The search was tweeted as ongoing at 8:03 p.m., that is, until 8:43 p.m., when a third tweet indicated that the LAFD's efforts did not result in finding the hiker. This was about 16 minutes after the 108-minute search was officially called off.
"After exhaustive search no pt found. All units/inc cleared," LAFD spokesperson Matt Spence tweeted.
LAFD spokesperson Matt Spence told Canyon News that the search tied up resources for some time that could have been devoted to other emergencies. Spence said that these rescues are usually quick, taking about one or two hours depending on the terrain and rescuing personnel's familiarity with the area.
Sometimes individuals who ask for help end up being assisted by someone in their party or are able to get to safety on their own. But occasionally someone uses emergency call boxes to phone in a false report. Whether someone genuinely needed help at 1600 Via Las Palmas when the call came in was never determined, Spence said.
Similar efforts by LAFD rescuers resulted in them finding a 25-year-old female hiker, who was reported as being injured near 21100 W. Entrada Road at 10:59 a.m. At 12 p.m., Spence tweeted that the hiker was being hoisted onto a helicopter in order to transport her to a nearby hospital. She was in fair condition at the time.
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