Hiker Rescued Near Modjeska Peak
A 19-year-old hiker who tumbled off a cliff in a remote area near Modjeska Peak was rescued late Sunday night after his father managed to find a utility repairman who summoned help.
A Costa Mesa Police Department helicopter, shining its giant beam of light over the dark and rugged canyon terrain, found the hiker within half an hour of the report, Sheriff’s Lt. Rich Paddock said.
He said the victim, whose name was not immediately known, was found about 10 p.m. at the base of a cliff, and Orange County Fire Authority rescuers rappelled to him. The hiker was not seriously injured.
The victim and his father were hiking with others on the south side of Modjeska Peak when the fall occurred. It was not known how long it took for the father to hike as much as two miles for help.
He found it, Paddock said, from a utility worker in the area. It was not known which company he worked for and what the employee was doing.
The hiker was located quickly despite the darkness and difficulty pinpointing the exact location of the fallen hiker, Paddock said.
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