A man and his injured female companion, who lost their way while trekking through the Cleveland National Forest near Lake Elsinore, were rescued today.
Jemal Shatemirov, 25, and Larisa Yusupdzhanova, 33, both of Murrieta, became stranded around 8 p.m. Sunday about eight miles from the Tenaja trailhead after the latter suffered a leg injury, according to Riverside County sheriff’s Sgt. Ken Chaffin.
He said the hikers called 911 when they couldn’t make it out of the woods, and the county’s Mountain Rescue Unit was activated, with a team a going into the area shortly before 11 p.m. in an attempt to locate the pair.
Chaffin said the hikers remained in contact with searchers by cell phone throughout the night, and by 8:45 a.m. today, the two were found and airlifted to safety.
The sergeant said the incident highlights the importance of preparedness, which means a “well-thought-out travel plan shared with friends and family, as well as familiarity with common hiking equipment … proper clothing and plenty of water.”
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