A dramatic video has captured the intense helicopter rescue of a hiking couple who found themselves in distress due to dehydration in Joshua Tree, California, during a triple-digit heat wave.
On June 9, a man made a distress call to 911 from Painted Canyon, reporting that his girlfriend was weak and dehydrated, prompting a response from the Riverside County Sheriff's Office.
The department's Rescue 9 helicopter was swiftly dispatched to the hikers' location, where rescuers located the couple huddled in a dry creek bed. The man was seen trying to shield the woman from the scorching heat and wind.
Both individuals were hoisted into the helicopter one by one and flown to a nearby landing zone. The woman, in a severe condition, was then rushed to a hospital via an aeromedical helicopter, while the man was transported by ambulance for medical attention.
The Painted Canyon area, where the incident occurred, experienced high temperatures ranging from 100 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Weather Service.
This week, the NWS issued Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories across California's Central Valley and the Desert Southwest, affecting nearly 19 million people in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and South Texas. These warnings are the most extreme form of heat alerts issued by the NWS.
The Riverside County Sheriff's Department emphasized the importance of being prepared for extreme heat conditions, advising hikers to carry more water than they think they will need, have a hiking plan, and inform at least two people of their whereabouts before embarking on outdoor activities.
