Two young hikers were safe at home Friday after being rescued by the Los Angeles Fire Department from a steep hillside in Elysian Park.
A passerby reported at 9:38 p.m. Thursday that the 17- and 18-year-old hikers, both young men, were stranded. They were safely off the hillside about an hour later, according to Brian Humphrey of the LAFD.
Rescuers used a two-line rope system to lift the hikers to the top of the hill while a helicopter provided light overhead, Humphrey said.
The hikers live in the area and had backpacks with them when they climbed the hillside, Humphrey said. It wasn’t immediately clear how long they were stranded.
They were met at the top of the hillside by the 17-year-old boy’s father and were evaluated by paramedics before being released to the boy’s father, Humphrey said.
The hikers were apologetic and embarrassed, according to Humphrey, who said the young hikers were excited by the ordeal and told rescuers they were going to consider careers as LAFD firefighters.
—City News Service