Three rock climbers in San Diego County were dramatically rescued Tuesday afternoon after becoming stranded on a narrow ledge roughly 100 feet above the canyon floor in a remote mountain area, authorities said.
The ordeal began around 2 p.m., when the San Diego Sheriff’s Office received a call reporting the climbers were stuck and unable to get down.
Deputies said the group was trapped in a rugged area between El Cajon Mountain and El Monte Mountain.
Nearly two hours after the initial call, a rescue helicopter was sent to the stranded climbers, who were perched precariously above the ground.
Dramatic aerial footage captured by SkyFOX/KUSI showed crews carefully hoisting the trio to safety. The helicopter utilized a hoit system to lift each person into the aircraft one at a time.
San Diego County Parks describes El Capitan County Preserve as a rugged, mostly treeless ridgeline with roughly 11 miles of trails. Officials warn that the “hike is considered strenuous and can easily take up to 6 hours to complete.”
Despite the tense situation, all three climbers were reported to be in good health and did not require a hospital visit, officials said.