Biologist Breaks Leg, Is Flown to Hospital

A state biologist was resting comfortably in his San Pedro home Tuesday after breaking his leg and enduring a 2 1/2-hour rescue Monday from the back country of Ventura County.

California Department of Fish and Game biologist Ray Ally, 57, broke his leg late Monday afternoon while hiking near Reyes Creek in Los Padres National Forest.

Ally had just completed a survey counting and measuring fish in the stream with four other state biologists, said Fish and Game biologist Paul Gregory, a friend of Ally.

Ally was walking back along the stream when the ground gave way and he fell about 10 feet and broke his leg, Gregory said.

The team used hand-held radios to call for help, he said. A Sheriff’s Department helicopter arrived and lowered paramedics John Sullivan and Dana Paris through the dense trees.

After setting a splint for Ally’s leg, the paramedics carried him to a clearing where he was hoisted into the helicopter and flown to Ventura County Medical Center.