COBB, Calif. – A nine-hour search and rescue operation coordinated by the Sheriff’s Office last Sunday night resulted in the safe recovery of a 32-year-old Loch Lomond woman.
On Sunday July 15, 2012 at approximately 11:00 pm, sheriff’s deputies responded to an area owned by Calpine Corporation off of Cold Water Creek Road, for a report of an overdue hiker, according to Sgt. Steve Brooks.
It was reported that Aiyana Hickman had accessed the Calpine property through the geothermal gate on Bottle Rock Road earlier in the day at about 11:00 a.m. Brooks said she was attempting to hike to an area known as the “Big Falls.”
Family members said Hickman had called them from her cellular telephone at approximately 5 p.m. The reception from her phone was very poor, but family members believed something was wrong, according to Brooks’ report. Hickman was told to call back when she was able to get to an area where her phone had better service.
At approximately 10 p.m., she was able to place another call to family members and said she was lost. Brooks said she also reported she had lost her shoes and was scraped up from falling and trying to find her way through the dense brush. Family members told deputies that Hickman did not have any food or water and was not prepared to spend the night in the woods.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Central Dispatch Center was able to obtain Hickman’s general location from a 911 call she made. Brooks said deputies responded to the area in an attempt to locate Hickman.
As the deputies were checking the area, Hickman was able to contact Central Dispatch using her cell phone and advised she could see the lights from the patrol cars. Brooks said deputies attempted to make their way up to Hickman but were unable, due to the dense vegetation. They were able to make voice contact with Hickman by yelling and told her to say at her current location.
At approximately 11:30 p.m., the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) coordinator began calling in resources for a SAR mission. Brooks said man trackers, K-Corps members and four wheel drive teams were summoned to the area.
Once on scene SAR members were able to contact Hickman by yelling back and forth to each other, Brooks said. A compass bearing was taken and two search teams were established. Both teams were sent from different starting points to locate Hickman.
On Monday at 4:30 a.m., Hickman was located by one of the search teams and was treated for shock, dehydration and numerous lacerations. Brooks said the search teams provided information that they would not be able to bring Hickman out without additional resources, due to the dense brush and steep terrain.
At approximately 7:20 a.m., a California Highway Patrol Helicopter from Redding arrived on scene and prepared for the extraction, Brooks said. At approximately 8 a.m. they successfully extracted Hickman to a meadow located off of Coldwater Creek Road. Cal Fire paramedics were already on scene and examined Hickman. It was determined that there was no medical urgency and Hickman was released to waiting family members.
Sheriff Frank Rivero commended all of the SAR volunteers and K-Corps members for their response and successful conclusion of another search and rescue operation.
The sheriff also thanked Cal Fire and CHP for responding to assist with the rescue.