A stranded hiker was located by a helicopter crew just before 10 p.m. Saturday from a ledge east of the Ortega Highway, it was reported.
Because of the remoteness of the location, Hemet resident Kopeczy, 38, was told to sit tight in the mountainside location and wait for rescue personnel, according to a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department report.
Read: It’s hiking season, officials urge hikers to be prepared
“Members of the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit arrived on scene and began coordinating rescue efforts with the helicopter crew. At approximately 4 a.m., rescue personnel were able to safely hoist the hiker off the ledge and into the helicopter,” the report said.
The hiker was not injured.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department would like to remind hiking enthusiasts to carry proper equipment for any outdoor excursions.
Proper preparedness includes a well-thought-out travel plan shared with friends and family, as well as familiarity with common hiking equipment, such as GPS, maps and compasses, proper clothing and plenty of water. The Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit offers several helpful, lifesaving tips at their website www.rmru.org
Anyone with further information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station at 951-245-3300 or after hours and on weekends at 951-776-1099.
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