Photo of helicopter landing with rescued hikers on board. Courtesy of LASD.

Four Long Beach residents who became stranded by raging waters and worsening weather conditions in Malibu Creek State Park Saturday were air lifted out after an eight-hour ordeal that involved multiple agencies and their search and rescue teams.  

The hikers were identified as Savun Chhath, 25; Jonathan Lucero, 26; Janette Recinos, 25; and Billy Chum, 25, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Captain Mike Parker, who called the foursome’s decision to venture into the park on such a rainy day “an extremely bad idea.” Chhath, Lucero, Recinos and Chum went hiking despite flash flood warnings and got trapped on rocks between several rain-swollen canyons, Los Angeles County Fire Captain Roland Sprewell said.

One of the group managed to get cell phone reception and called authorities around 6:30PM Saturday saying he and three others were stranded in the Rock Pool area of Malibu Creek State Park, a popular summer swimming spot a mile and a half hike from the parking lot. 

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Malibu Search and Rescue Team members, Los Angeles County Fire Dept. Urban Search and Rescue team members and Los Angeles County Fire Dept. Lifeguards Swift Water Rescue Team members and firefighters responded, along with Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station deputies to attempt the rescue. 

As rescuers attempted to reach the hikers on foot, they realized all trails leading to their location had been flooded and as authorities continued to text and communicate with the hikers, intermittent rains continued to raise the water levels surrounding the stranded hikers to even more precarious heights. Three different helicopter crews attempted to assist, but also had trouble accessing the hikers due to the surrounding cliffs and the worsening visibility conditions (the hikers’ flashlight had run out of battery early in the evening). 

Eventually, at around 2:30AM, Ventura County Sheriff’s helicopter responded to the scene and, according to LASD officials, made a daring effort rescue the hikers, flying between close cliffs “with low visibility and high danger.” The hikers were discovered huddled on a boulder surrounded by rushing waters of Malibu Creek.

All four were airlifted out and treated for onset hypothermia. They were then cited by California State Park Rangers for engaging in unsafe recreational activities.

“One of the rescuers said it was one of the most dangerous and hair-raising operations he has been on,” Parker said.

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