By Daniella Segura
The Charlotte Observer
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, Calif. —A 15-year-old climber was rescued after getting wedged in a crevice between boulders in a remote area of a desert, California rescuers say.
Fire officials got a call the evening of Monday, Feb. 24, about a teen “trapped in a narrow rock crevice” in the Rimrock area, the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District said on a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
While the boy was climbing with family earlier in the day, he slipped and “became wedged, precariously pinned between the rocks, unable to free himself,” rescuers said in a video shared on X.
For “several hours,” the family tried to free the boy; however, they were unsuccessful and called 911, officials said.
Fire crews arrived “after dark to discover the teenager stuck approximately 30 feet down a crack between large boulders,” rescuers said.
The boy’s breathing was “severely restricted” by his position, rescuers said.
Firefighters started a “technical rope rescue system” to free the teen, all while drones flew overhead providing rescuers with light and the incident commander with live video feeds to monitor the incident, rescuers said.
After rescuing the boy “from the entrapment,” officials said they found he was suffering from “hypoxia, dehydration, and hypothermia.”
The boy was trapped in the crevice between five to six hours, a fire district spokesperson said in a Feb. 27 email to McClatchy News.
Paramedics provided the boy with medical care, then “began a treacherous climb down” while carrying the teen, rescuers said in the video.
First responders then took the boy to a nearby hospital, ending the nearly 2-hour long rescue, officials said.
Fire officials urged outdoor visitors “to be mindful of the risks when exploring rocky or remote areas.” If someone is trapped or injured, “avoid putting yourself in danger,” and call 911 right away.
Rimrock is about a 130-mile drive northeast from Los Angeles.
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