UPDATE: Santa Barbara County Fire Department crews responded to Nojoqui Falls near Buellton on Wednesday afternoon after receiving a report of a hiker requiring a possible medical rescue.
The incident was reported at approximately 1:30 p.m. on June 3, according to the fire department. The hiker, a 60-year-old female, sustained minor injuries from a mechanical slip and fall, according to the fire department.
She was safely transported by ground ambulance to Santa Ynez Cottage Hospital for treatment.
Nojoqui Falls, located in Nojoqui Falls County Park between Buellton and Gaviota, is a popular destination for hikers seeking to view the 164-foot waterfall via a relatively short trail through a shaded canyon.
The fire department asked the public to avoid the area to allow rescue personnel to safely conduct their operations. The area is now clear.
No additional details about the hiker’s condition were immediately released.
[Ed note: This article has been updated with new information from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department]
Also Read
- Tractor Rollover Sparks Vegetation Fire in Cuyama, One Person Trapped
- Vegetation Fire Burns Nearly 2 Acres in Solvang
- Santa Barbara Beachgoers Warned of Dangerous Waves, Strong Rip Currents Through Thursday
- Lompoc Approves Massive 34,661-Square-Foot Toyota Dealership on Vacant Theater Site
- Vehicle and Motorcycle Collide on West Cabrillo Boulevard, Two Hospitalized
TIL about the term “mechanical fall.” Never heard/saw that phrase before. It means a type of fall such as tripping over a rug or slipping on a wet floor. A slip or trip leading to a fall, i.e., caused by some external object. This type of fall differs from one caused by a medical event such as fainting or some other medical “underlying emergency.” —- Posting this info in case anyone else found the term “mechanical fall” a bit baffling.
Thanks for the info! I was wondering about that.
So, I wonder if doctors would consider this an “at fault” injury and therefore refuse to rescue and treat the victim? I mean, we all know at least one who wouldn’t.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26795891/
“The term mechanical fall is unclear, inconsistently used, and not associated with a discrete fall evaluation and does not predict outcomes. We propose eliminating the term because it inaccurately implies that a benign etiology for an older person’s fall exists.”