Stranded Hikers Rescued By Helicopter After Rising Tides Cut Off Exit
By iHeartRadio
August 5, 2025
Two 18-year-old hikers were rescued by helicopter on Saturday (August 2) after becoming stranded on a remote beach at Point Reyes National Seashore in California. Rising tides had cut off their exit route, leaving them trapped near Elephant Rock. The Marin County Fire Department received a call for assistance and contacted the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, which deployed a helicopter for the rescue.
The helicopter, equipped with a 100-foot-long rope, executed a long-line rescue operation. The rescuer, secured to the line, was lowered onto the rocky beach to secure the hikers into "hot seat" rescue devices designed for aerial extraction. Both hikers were safely hoisted into the helicopter and taken to Marin County Fire Department personnel waiting nearby.
According to authorities, no injuries were reported during the incident. The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office praised the seamless teamwork between the helicopter crew and the fire department, calling it a great example of multi-agency coordination and skilled execution.
The Point Reyes National Seashore is a popular destination for hikers, but the beaches can be dangerous due to rough surf, sneaker waves, and rip currents. The National Park Service advises visitors to check tide times and have a way to contact emergency resources, as some areas lack cell coverage.
The sheriff's office shared a video of the rescue on Facebook, which you can watch below.
🚁**Long Line Rescue at Point Reyes National Seashore**🚁Yesterday (8/2/25) Henry-1 was requested by the Marin County Fire Department to assist with the rescue of two stranded hikers who became trapped on a remote beach near Elephant Rock in the Point Reyes National Seashore after rising tides cut off their exit route.With no safe access by land or sea, Henry-1 executed a long line rescue operation. Henry-1 was configured with a 100-ft long line. The Henry-1 Tactical Flight Officer/EMT was inserted to the beach, where they secured each hiker into “hot seat” rescue devices for aerial extraction. Both of the hikers were extracted together and delivered to Marin County Fire Department personnel staged nearby. Thanks to the seamless teamwork between Henry-1 and Marin County Fire, both hikers were safely rescued with no injuries reported. A great example of multi-agency coordination and skilled execution! @marincountyfire#SonomaSheriff #MarinCountyFire #RescueMission #PointReyes #ElephantRock #Teamwork #ChangingTides #Longline #Airrescue #Rescue #Bellhelicopter #Bellflight #Medic #Flightmedic #Shorthaul #Crewchief #TFO #Sheriffrescue #Sonoma #Sonomastrong #SAR #Aviation #California #HenryOne #Henry1 #longlinerescue
Posted by Sonoma Sheriff on Sunday, August 3, 2025