2 Hikers Airlifted From Coachella Valley Desert Trails Wednesday

INDIO, CA — On a warm morning in the Coachella Valley, two 911 callers called for aid after suffering injuries on remote hiking trails in La Quinta and in Indio.

Both hikers were airlifted from the remote trails, one by a Cal Fire helicopter and the other by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department air rescue.

"They happened one right after the other," Cal Fire Capt. John Clingingsmith told Patch. "Both adult patients were airlifted from the remote desert trails, and were each in stable condition, and each was taken by ground ambulance.

Just after 9:45 a.m., a hiker in La Quinta came across another hiker who had suffered an injury, according to Clingingsmit. The person who found the victim hiked up to get a phone call out, notifying authorities of the inaccessible victim. Cal Fire Helicopter 608 managed the airlift and retrieved the person from trouble. They were taken by ground ambulance to a nearby hospital for further treatment.

At 11 a.m., emergency responders headed back out, this time to the Pushwalla Palms Trail area of Indio to assist another injured hiker.

"That hiker called for aid themselves," Clingingsmith said.

Both Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department firefighters rushed to lend aid at Pushwalla Palms Trail in Indio.

Riverside County Sheriff Rescue 9 hoisted the patient to awaiting paramedics, who transported the patient by ground ambulance to a local hospital for further evaluation.