A 15-year-old fell roughly 40 feet off the Cold Springs Trail above Montecito on Sunday afternoon, November 8, leading to a helicopter rescue by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
Two firefighters were lowered about 100 feet down from the helicopter to help the girl, who had fallen into a creek bed, having lost consciousness from hitting her head on multiple rocks. The patient was stabilized by the firefighters and lifted via basket to the helicopter, which flew her to La Cumbre Junior High, from which she was transported to Cottage Hospital.
Six additional hikers were escorted by firefighters back to the command post set up at the Cold Springs trailhead. Santa Barbara County Fire, Montecito Fire, Los Padres Forest Service, and Search and Rescue all were involved in the difficult rescue, according to Fire Captain David Sadecki.