Teen talks about being bitten by rattlesnake
A 17-year-old Palm Desert girl has been released from Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital after a rattlesnake bite hospitalized her for seven days. Mackenzie Cosgrove was bitten while hiking with her family near Indian Wells on Sunday, May 10.
Officials said Cosgrove was rescued from the Santa Rosa Mountains, about 1,200 feet above the El Dorado Country Club, shortly before noon after a snake bit her on the right ankle while hiking on Mount Eisenhower.
Cosgrove was hiking with her family on the Eisenhower Loop Trail in the mountains south of Indian Wells. They were in rocky terrain when Cosgrove stepped next to several large rocks and was bit twice by a rattlesnake.
“We just got a little unlucky, about an hour into the trail, my daughter was stepping over a rock, which we were doing all the way up, we didn’t hear it and didn’t see it, and she got bit by a snake,” said Stephany Cosgrove who was with her daughter during the hike.
“We did what 911 said to do and that is keep the leg lower than the heart and try not to move, just waited and keep her cool,” said Cosgrove.
Ground crews had to hike to find Cosgrove and gave her first aid until a helicopter from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department was able to airlift her to Desert Regional Medical Center. Officials said this was the only helicopter in the Southern California region able to perform the hoist rescue at the time.
“We used 17 firefighters to climb up to where she was, if we had not had the availability of that helicopter it could have been several more hours to get her down,” said Rick Griggs, battalion chief with Cal Fire.
Cosgrove was taken to the hospital in serious condition.
News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 spoke to her mother and she said her daughter was transported to Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and was in stable condition shortly after being rescued .
After seven days of treatment, Cosgrove was released from the hospital and she’s now back home. Her mother said she’ll be using crutches and a wheelchair for awhile until the lingering pain subsides.
If you see a rattlesnake while out hiking, authorities say to simply stay away from it. Don’t reach or step into places or bushes you can’t see clearly.
Also, rattlesnakes don’t always rattle before they strike. If you get bitten, call 911 right away.
