The crew aboard the fresno county sheriff department's helicopter pulled off an amazing rescue operation on March 8th. A paraglider became stranded 4,000 feet up on some rocks near Squaw Valley.
"It wasn't going to be normal. We weren't just going to land, walk out, get him and put him in and take him to the bottom of the mountain," said Deputy Mike Sill, Pilot for the Fresno Co. Sheriff's Dept.
Pilot, Mike Sill, and Tactical Flight Officer, Bill Vincent had to battle windy conditions and rely on their eyes to scan the steep, rugged terrain filled with brush. Then suddenly, they spotted their target.
"You're looking for a parachute, you don't find a parachute and he's just sitting there with a backpack ready to go," said Deputy Bill Vincent, Tactical Flight Officer for the Fresno Co. Sheriff's Dept.
Then it was time for their training to kick in. Deputy Sill had to pull off a difficult balancing act of landing just one of the helicopter's skids to let Deputy Vincent out.
"You're relying on your partner talking you into a location you can't see. It's very much a team effort," said Deputy Sill.
"Once we clear the tail rotor and the tip rotors it's easy," said Deputy Vincent.
Vincent carefully hoisted the paraglider into the chopper and Sill flew him down to safety. Amazingly, he was able to walk away with only a sore back.
"Catching bad guys is fun with the helicopter, but when you're able to rescue somebody, it's a completely different feeling that's very satisfying," said Deputy Sill.