Man suffering from self-inflicted gunshot wound hoist rescued in Lucerne Valley

LUCERNE VALLEY, Calif. (VVNG.com) — Aviation deputies conducted a hoist rescue on a man suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a remote mountain area in Lucerne Valley.

On Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 4:20 p.m., a male subject called 9-1-1 to report a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a wooded area somewhere on a mountain.

Officials said the subjects cell phone generated coordinates to his location.

According to a sheriff’s news release, “San Bernardino County Sheriff’s helicopter and patrol deputies responded to the area provided by the subject’s cell phone, and the helicopter crew located the injured subject in a remote mountainous area. Based on the location of the subject, a hoist rescue was conducted.”

The crew of 40K5 was pilot Deputy Doug Brimmer, crew chief Deputy Brad Heard, and hoist rider Deputy Lauren Abernathy.

The crew flew to the location of the subject and noticed the location was being used to grow marijuana with several marijuana plants growing along the hillsides. Deputy Abernathy was lowered approximately 78’ to the subject, and noticed a gunshot wound to the subject’s lower leg. Deputy Abernathy placed the subject in a rescue harness and recovered a handgun at the location.

The subject was hoisted up to the helicopter and flown to a landing zone nearby. The subject was transferred to a California Highway Patrol helicopter with a paramedic onboard and flown to Loma Linda University Medical Center for treatment.

The gun was turned over to Victor Valley deputies for processing and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Marijuana Enforcement Team was notified of the marijuana grow.

Aviation personnel would like to remind the public that these types of mountainous marijuana grows can be dangerous and are usually protected by armed subjects. If you encounter these types of grows during your hikes, please back away and notify law enforcement.

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