Distressed 15-Year-Old Female Hiker Rescued West Of Palm Desert

ANZA, CA — A 15-year-old hiker who collapsed from apparent fatigue while trekking north of Anza in the San Bernardino National Forest Tuesday was airlifted to a hospital after firefighters located her.

The "hiker down" call was received just before 2 p.m. along the Ramona Trail in the vicinity of Thomas Mountain, roughly three miles west of Highway 74, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

The agency said the victim, identified only as a girl, suffered weakness as she tried to return to the trailhead and couldn't go any farther. Several other hikers came to the teenager's aid and contacted 911.

Firefighters initiated a search shortly after 2 p.m. and located the teen by 2:30 p.m. A sheriff's STAR-9 helicopter crew based at Hemet-Ryan Airport hoisted the victim off the trail to a makeshift landing zone near the junction of Highways 74 and 371 to the south.

A REACH Air ambulance retrieved the girl at 2:45 p.m. and flew her to Temecula Valley Hospital, according to reports from the scene.

She was reportedly in stable condition.