Injured Bicyclist Airlifted From Remote Canyon
An Irvine man was airlifted out of a remote area of the Cleveland National Forest on Saturday after he broke his ankle while mountain biking, authorities said.
Brad Nielson, 23, fell about 50 feet down an embankment near a waterfall in Black Star Canyon, said Capt. Dan Young of the Orange County Fire Authority. Nielson, who was bicycling with a group of friends, suffered a broken left ankle and numerous scrapes and bruises, Young said.
“This area is about 10 miles from a paved road,” Young said. “People go in there to find out what they can do with their bikes and, sometimes, they find out what they can’t do with them too.”
A Marine Corps search and rescue helicopter located the group about 4 p.m. after one in their party drove out and contacted authorities, Young said. Two Fire Authority paramedics were lowered to the ground and treated the injured man, who was then lifted into the helicopter by a winch.
Nielson was transported to Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills, where he was in good condition late Saturday.
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