VENTURA, Calif., March 3 (UPI) -- Four hikers stranded for four hours by a flooding California creek were rescued Sunday, Ventura County Sheriff's officials said.
The Long Beach, Calif., hikers, believed to be in their mid-20s, had been caught by quickly rising waters at the Malibu Creek Gorge as severe rain pummeled much of southern California.
"The Ventura County sheriff's helicopter was able to break through the weather system, and has successfully hoisted all four of them out," said Mike Parker, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Parker, who live tweeted the rescue, said emergency personnel were concerned the hikers might suffer hypothermia. Temperatures in the gorge were in the mid-40s.
...temps in Malibu Creek gorge area in mid-40's F, rescuers concerned abt hypothermia #LArain @MalibuSAR #SAR @LACo_FD @LHSLASD
— Mike Parker (@mpLASD) March 2, 2014Check out some of the photos of the rescue Parker captured:
...rescuers must still hike climb swim boat out of very cold gorge #SAR #LArain pic.twitter.com/qTrkN7Nvxb @MalibuSAR @LACo_FD
Advertisement— Mike Parker (@mpLASD) March 2, 2014...@VenturaSheriff helicopter lands w/ very cold, rescued hikers on board #SAR @MalibuSAR @LHSLASD @LACo_FD pic.twitter.com/1ARUMrxEvy
— Mike Parker (@mpLASD) March 2, 2014...hikers chkd by medics #SAR #Teamwork @MalibuSAR @LHSLASD @LACo_FD @LACoLifeguards @VenturaSheriff @LASDHQ pic.twitter.com/DvJ8CPqOLw
— Mike Parker (@mpLASD) March 2, 2014[KCRA]
