SANTA PAULA : Hiker Hurt in Leap into Punch Bowl

County firefighters Thursday rescued an 18-year-old hiker who injured his knee jumping from a rock ledge to a pool of water in Santa Paula Canyon.

Tony Jones of Camarillo was flown out of the canyon by helicopter and taken to Santa Paula Memorial Hospital, where he was treated and released. Because he fell in a narrow gorge where the helicopter could not land, firefighters strapped the youth into a basket and flew him out dangling from the copter.

Jones had hiked into the canyon with about 10 friends early Thursday on a trip that was intended to celebrate their graduation from Rio Mesa High School, officials said.

Firefighter Vern Peterson said Jones apparently jumped about 75 feet from a ledge into a pool in an area known as the Punch Bowl.

Two of Jones’ friends made the one-hour trek to call for help.

John Blewett, vice president of Thomas Aquinas College, where the trail begins, said the rescues have become a ritual of summer, with helicopters landing on the school’s soccer field.

Blewett theorized that after hiking several miles in the heat, many people ignore the dangers of the Punch Bowl.

“It’s quite appealing to anyone who goes in there,” he said.

Peterson urged hikers to use common sense, wear proper shoes and avoid going near steep ledges covered with loose gravel.