This story has been revised. See note below.
Six people were rescued after officials received a call about hikers trapped on a cliffside in Malibu Creek State Park on Saturday evening, according to Malibu Search and Rescue.
Sheriffs first responded to a call around 5:55 p.m. of four male hikers stuck on “Goats Butte”, a cliffside located above the rock pool area.
Upon arrival, volunteers with Malibu Search and Rescue (SAR) found two males stuck on the south side of the rock pool area and assumed they had placed the call for rescue.
“We initially received a call of four people stuck on the cliffside,” SAR Chief David Katz said. “When we got into the field and got to the rock pool area, we could see four people stuck on the other side of the rock pool. The initial assumption were those four.”
Rescuers used an inflatable boat to recover two males stuck in a narrow climbing area near the rock pool.
Two females were able to “self rescue” from the area and surprised by the volunteer rescue crew, told them “we hadn’t even called you yet.”
“The one that we first started on had not been called in. That’s what caused the confusion initially,” Katz said.
After surveying the scene, volunteers realized the call came from four hikers above the first rescue area.
Three of the victims were hoisted off of the cliff face to safety via helicopter, while one paramedic assisted the fourth victim of the group who had fallen down the cliffside and suffered a head injury.
“The medic who then repelled down … He had to set a system and repel down to the other victim, secure that victim and they had to hike up to a spot where the helicopter could get him,” Katz said. “He was able to walk, but he was the one in the most dangerous spot.”
Sgt. Wright reported no hospital services were required.
“We responded and had the fire department assist us; eventually they brought in a helicopter,” Wright said. “
Responders to the scenes included volunteers with SAR, L.A. County Fire Department, California State Parks and L.A. County Department Air Operations Section.
“As far as I know, the state park rangers were going to be citing these [hikers] for unsafe recreation,” Katz said.
All rescues were completed by 8:30 p.m.
Editor’s note: Initial reports to the Sheriff’s Station stated that eight people were rescued. However, two people were later known to have escaped from the area on their own.
