The volunteers of the Mendocino County Search and Rescue Team were busy this past weekend on three separate incidents. About 20 volunteers responded to searches for the three missing persons.
"We were grateful that all three incidents had a positive outcome," says Sheriff's Deputy Kevin Cotroneo, SAR team commander.
Friends of a 57-year-old woman on String Creek Road, became concerned when she failed to arrive at a dinner engagement on Friday night. Several friends went to the woman's home early on Saturday morning to discover the woman and her three dogs missing. With her cars still parked at the home and keys and purse inside, the friends called the sheriff. A SAR team on the way to another incident in Leggett, diverted to the scene. The friends continued their search; locating the woman in a ravine with a broken hip and suffering from mild hypothermia, say police. SAR members are trained in tracking and were able to quickly follow the woman's tracks to her position.
"The woman had apparently left the path and traveled cross country following her dogs," says Cotroneo. "She then slipped and fell injuring her hip. We called Little Lake Fire Department and were able to move her on a Stokes stretcher to an ambulance."
A 12-person SAR team arrived in the Leggett area on Saturday morning to search for a missing man. Family members had contacted the department very concerned about him. The team located the man's pickup truck and due to conditions at the scene could not track him. The SAR team then set up a grid-based search area with some members on ATVs and others afoot. The team was very relieved when the man was found several hours later in Laytonville, having hiked cross country through some rugged terrain.
The third search involved a kayaker who overshot his pickup spot. The 52-year-old experienced kayaker from the Santa Cruz area had last floated the Navarro River in 1991 and failed to rescout it before setting out at Rancheria Creek near Boonville on Friday, January 11. He had expected to come out at the bridge on the Philo-Greenwood Road but failed to recognize it and continued down river, say police. The kayaker traveled about nine more miles down river, beaching near Dimmick State Park. The kayaker did not realize he was only a short distance from the highway and began traveling back up river. He made it about six tough miles, picking up plenty of river sand and mud before bumping into a group of fishermen.
Anyone over age 14 in Mendocino County, not convicted of a felony, may join the SAR team. Members must get valid First Aid and CPR certifications and they receive training throughout the year. Details about how to sign up or get more information about the team can be found at www.mendocinosar.org/about.html.
Source: Willits News
Well then. I'm glad there's a commander with my uncommon name. <3
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