A man who was injured hiking with a friend, found himself having to rescue the rescuers who came to help him.
Sunnyvale resident Dan Grasso, 34, and his friend Jeremy Kilburn, were hiking in Shasta-Trinity National Forest near Big Bear Lake, Thursday, when Kilburn was was knocked over by a dog, and broke his leg, reports the Mercury News.
They were five miles out and in an area where the only rescue would be done by helicopter.
They borrowed radios from a group of camp counselors, who were hiking with underprivileged kids, and waited for the chopper to arrive, around 6:20 p.m.
According to the paper, Grasso said as the chopper's blades slowed, they sagged, and struck CHP paramedic Officer Tony Stanley, in the back of the head, dropping him immediately.
The only way to save him, was if Kilburn - who is a U.S. Air Force trauma surgeon - and his broken leg, could get to the downed man.
Grasso and Kilburn managed to get 50 yards down the hill to Stanley, where Kilburn was able to get the injury under control, with the help of the camp counselors, Elizabeth Fitch and Bryce Halbert, who had first aid knowledge.
Local
Room was cleared in the helicopter for Stanley, Kilburn and Fitch, who served as flight nurse on the 41-mile trip to Redding.
Kilburn was treated and released with a broken leg, while Stanley remains hospitalized.
