Teens Rescued From Malibu Cliff (PHOTOS)

A day hike at the Malibu Creek State Park in California turned dangerous for a father, his teenage daughter, and her four friends last Saturday evening.

According to the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, the group found itself high and dry on a "treacherous cliff slope" off Goat Butte Mountain in Malibu. While two people were able to scramble down the cliff face safely, the other four were stranded on the edge until one of them was able to get cell phone service and call for help.

LASD's Malibu Search and Rescue team responded swiftly and rescued the remaining four hikers. Here's how they did it:

A Sheriff's MSAR ground team reached the victims and set up a technical rope lowering system. The victims were safely lowered to the base of the mountain where they were escorted to the Sheriff’s Department Command Post at 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Unincorporated Malibu.

Sheriff's MSAR was assisted by Los Angeles County Fire Engine Company 67 and Helicopter 16, who extracted one of the teen victims via helicopter cable winch, because she was too frightened to be taken down the slope.

No one was injured, and all returned home to Los Angeles safely.

Photos by Mark Hollinger of Malibu Search and Rescue, courtesy of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. Story continues below.

While a cell phone saved the hikers last Saturday,Sheriff's Captain Mike Parker told the LA Times that hikers shouldn't expect to have cell signal while hiking:

It's not normal for a cellphone to work in nature... For some people, it's sheer luck that they get [a signal], so we would strongly recommend when people go out for their day hike that they do things beyond bringing a cellphone and thinking it's going to save them.

The hikers' rescue on Saturday was a bright spot in what has otherwise been a tragic few weeks for Southern California hikers. A hiker in the Angeles Forest, John Jutiyasantayanon, fell to his death near Eaton Canyon in Altadena that same day. His was the second hiker death in as many weeks near that canyon. Last week, a man also broke both of his legs when hiking around Eaton Canyon.

Comments

[maquina]

10:32 PM on 08/14/2011

well in my opion there shouldnt be any judging what so ever because we all make mistakes and we all learn from so for all the people making the really bad comments about the vitictims you guys should stop beacuse get in their shoes if it was you there or one of your childern in fear of not finding a way back down. so stop the rude comments and have a little of consideration for them.

[druschhai]

06:13 PM on 08/09/2011

Can't they leave that #*@*$% bonsai tree alone? Mr. Miyagi is spinning around in his grave!

[maquina]

10:47 PM on 08/13/2011

MR GROUSCHAII ; Y TALK LIKE THAT TO SOMEONE.. GET A JOB .DO YOU HAVE ANY TEENCHILDREN? NO HUU.I WILL PRAY 4 U

[druschhai]

09:30 AM on 08/27/2011

It's a joke. Mock anger. Learn to use lowercase letters.

[ciskokid]

05:07 PM on 08/09/2011

All the story lacks is a cougar roaming and sniffing around the hikers.

[GoDogGo]

03:43 PM on 08/09/2011

Taxpayer funding of *trails* for all our benefit is a vital government service. Funding rescues for people who wander off those trails and onto eroding cliffs where they require a helicopter to hoist them out? Not so much.

Gotta concur with the other commenters: I hope they pay the bill.

[Dan Crabtree]

03:09 PM on 08/09/2011

All rescues at taxpayers exspence of course.

[Alexandra Spinner]

07:03 PM on 08/09/2011

Super user EXPENSE. And laws have been passed billing and collecting fines from hikers etc. who require rescue. Unless they die, the rescue pay. State law.

[petpetdonna]

02:16 PM on 08/09/2011

Male them pay for the rescue effort. That will teach them a lesson. It is time for these id iots to stop going where they shouldn't be going.

[hossrocks42]

01:55 PM on 08/09/2011

this is why we dont go hiking on THE EDGE OF A CLIFF YOU IDIOTS.

[Steve Brancamp]

01:42 PM on 08/09/2011

Accidents happen outdoors. That is why we have Search and Rescue teams. Many SAR teams are volunteer and some in larger areas like LA are paid by taxes. And while it sucks that this guy got a couple of his kids stuck in a tight spot, I am sure they have learned their lesson. And at least they were outside doing something! Would you rather they all sit at home watching TV and playing video games, getting fat so tax payers can pay for their insulin and cholestrol meds? And yes, often times people do get a bill for their own rescue... Just because the article didn't discuss the details doesn't mean they won't get billed.

[s5cat2dog]

12:55 PM on 08/09/2011

A waste of resources....to 'rescue' these fools.

[aearthling59]

11:19 AM on 08/09/2011

In the White Mountains of NH there are mountain trails that take you everywhere and for a novice like me I enjoy them but I know there are those who have to go into areas that people usually don't get to, its exciting and I think they should be able to do it BUT if you don't tell someone where you are going take precautions you risk your lives. I saw a documentary on Mt. Everest and a group of climbers. I couldn't believe my ears that these people just went on the climb because they wanted to, no physical preparation, someone who just had an operation, someone with one leg, really people!

[Bob Dionysus]

02:22 PM on 08/09/2011

Awesome! A real "run on" sentence.

[aearthling59]

05:09 PM on 08/09/2011

Thanks, sometimes I try to make the whole paragraph one sentence.

[socalcde]

03:08 PM on 08/09/2011

I'm from the Mt. Washington Valley, so I'm fanning you because of that, but also, rescues are necessary there all of time and you hear many stories of people hiking above tree line with no supplies and wearing just sneakers.

[luminavi]

10:19 AM on 08/09/2011

How many brainless hikers does LA have? Send these people the bill for the rescue.

[genboomxer]

12:47 PM on 08/09/2011

If they can't afford it should they have their wages garnished? Or perhaps you prefer they be taken back and abandoned to "live with their mistake"? How about opening a debters prison?

I'd be careful about calling people brainless if I were you.

[petpetdonna]

02:18 PM on 08/09/2011

How many brainless hikers does it take to screw in a light bulb? All of them because they reach out and all fall of the chair.

[BuckoForce]

07:51 AM on 08/09/2011

One of the reason we pay taxes, glad everyone is safe. That is always my fear, that I will fall down a ravine in Griffith Park and have to be rescued by Sheriffs. Forget the danger, I'm worried about the embarrassment.

[Brockernation]

06:37 AM on 08/09/2011

And I bet most of them, if not all, are union members, let's not forget that!!

[petpetdonna]

02:21 PM on 08/09/2011

Of course dad is a union member. He was out looking to see where his union dues went. Oh, that's right they went into the union bosses pocket. He would spend less throwing his money off the cliff.

[Brockernation]

02:26 PM on 08/09/2011

So, the unions don't help the workers get health care, not be fired for random reasons, represent the side of the workers against the corporations, give the workers a united voice, get benefits, bargain effectively, go on strike if necessary?

And, don't union members vote for their leaders?

[1differentdrummer]

05:58 AM on 08/09/2011

Good job, Dad. Lead 'em into danger. Be careful out there.

[KIVPossum]

05:54 AM on 08/09/2011

If you don't know an area well, it's best to stay on well-established trails. A lot of places the terrain can get away from you before you know what's happening.

Congrats to LASD for a job well done

[av1drdr]

09:27 AM on 08/09/2011

I lived in Malibu for a year. I saw no well established trails. The mountains there are very, very rugged and difficult to walk. Actually, the mountain roads can be treacherous to drive.

[s5cat2dog]

12:58 PM on 08/09/2011

You are so right....what person in their right minds would think Hey cool, let's go for a walk. There are plenty of places to walk around without jeapordizing yourself, AND your KIDS. If they choose to go there, they are on their own and I don't agree with utilizing vital resources to save some JERKS.

[hossrocks42]

01:57 PM on 08/09/2011

ive lived in malibu my whole life, and im quite the hiker, but theres no way in hell id go hiking out on the EDGE OF A CLIFF! most of the trails are just dirt trails and very rugged, with very few well established trails, but thats no excuse for walking on the edge of a cliff