Hiker trying to get photo of waterfall plunges 30 feet, California rescuers say
.jpeg "A helicopter team hoisted the hiker from the area, rescuers said")
A hiker attempting to snap a photograph of a waterfall plunged 30 feet, leading to a two-hour-long rescue, California officials say.
Butte County Search and Rescue “responded to a serious incident” in a remote area of Pulga at about 3 p.m. on May 25, rescuers said in a May 27 Instagram post.
The fall happened as the hiker trekked “down to get a picture of the waterfall,” Kevin Soukup, a spokesperson for Butte County Search and Rescue, said in a May 29 email to McClatchy News.
The hiker’s serious injuries required immediate attention, rescuers said.
Given the remote area in rugged terrain, rescuers said they evacuated the hiker from the area using a “short haul helicopter rescue ... using a 150-foot extended rope.”
A video shared by officials shows a rescuer wearing red accompanying the hiker inside a litter as a helicopter hoists the pair over the waterfall and dense trees.
“That red shirt represents one of our dedicated, all-volunteer team members—trained professionals who respond at all hours, in all conditions, to help those in need,” according to rescuers.
Rescuers flew the hiker several miles away to an area near the Cresta Power House, where an ambulance crew took over caring for the hiker, officials said.
Pulga is about a 95-mile drive north from Sacramento.
This story was originally published May 30, 2025 at 10:20 AM with the headline "Hiker trying to get photo of waterfall plunges 30 feet, California rescuers say."
