Hiker airlifted to safety after medical emergency in Palm Desert

A hiker suffering a medical emergency had to be airlifted to safety from the Bump and Grind hiking trails in Palm Desert Wednesday morning.

According to Cal Fire, crews were called to the crossing of the Herb Jeffries Trail and the Hopalong Cassidy Trail just before 8:30 a.m. They were able to contact the patient in about 20 minutes.

A Riverside County sheriff’s helicopter flew the hiker to a nearby medic where the patient was taken to a local hospital in moderate condition, officials said in a release.

It’s unknown at this time what type of medical emergency the hiker was dealing with.

Although this hiker didn’t have control over the situation, several hikers have been rescued in the Coachella Valley recently because they weren’t prepared to brave the elements.

On Tuesday afternoon, six hikers were rescued in Palm Springs when they became lost on the Victor Trail, south of the Indian Canyons Trading Post. They split into two groups, were thirsty and the charge on their cell phone was nearly gone, prompting the Palm Springs Police Department to release the following advisory:

Law enforcement and Tribal Rangers who work in the Canyons encourage visitors to wear appropriate clothing for the conditions, pack plenty of water, have a fully charged cell phone, stay on trails and allow enough time to return to trailheads well before closing time. In addition hikers should tell a friend or family member details of the hike, including the name and location of the trail and estimated return time.