Injured Man Airlifted From Hiking Trail
A Thousand Oaks man was airlifted to the Ventura County Medical Center on Tuesday after he was found injured on a seldom-traveled hiking trail east of Cherry Creek canyon, about 15 miles north of Ojai.
Paul Slayback, 35, told authorities his legs were broken and he had been stranded for two weeks, according to Sgt. Larry Meyers, spokesperson with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.
“He was unable to move up or down the hill, but he might have been out there for one day,” said Meyers, noting that Slayback’s legs were injured but not broken. “He wasn’t out for two weeks, because he would have been severely dehydrated, and he didn’t have the gear for that much time.”
Slayback was rescued after another hiker walking in the remote area came upon him and found Slayback unable to move, Meyers said. The hiker called 911, and a rescue crew landed a helicopter nearby and hiked to Slayback.
Joanne Stibor, nursing supervisor at the county hospital, said Slayback did not have any broken bones and was being observed overnight.
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