SJPD Helicopter Helps Rescue Injured Hiker

SAN JOSE, CA — A San Jose aircrew put their training in action this month to help rescue a 75-year-old man who fell over a rocky cliff.

According to the San Jose Police Department, the AIR 3 helicopter worked with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office to reach the man in the are of San Antonio Valley Road on Aug 10. Police said the man's friends contacted authorities earlier in the day after failing to return from a hunt. In the early afternoon, a friend spotted him stranded and injured, roughly 100 feet down a cliff, police said.

A deputy hiked down to reach the man and called for air support. The AIR 3 crew helped hoist the man to safety through heavy tree cover and move him to a clearing where a life-flight transport helicopter was waiting. Police said the man was treated at the hospital and expected to survive.

San Jose's aerial support unit regularly assists the police department and neighboring agencies in Santa Clara County, including aiding in foot pursuits, locating missing people, and finding stolen cars. According to the police department, AIR 3 helped recover nearly one-third of vehicles reported stolen in 2023.

So far this year, the helicopter has fielded close to 900 calls, including dozens from outside agencies.