Trabuco Canyon hikers both found after missing for four days
Cendoya was airlifted Wednesday night and transported to Mission Hospital after missing since Easter Sunday. (Sean Byrne)
Two hikers who went missing on the Trabuco Canyon trail have both been found, according to authorities at the Orange County Fire Authority station 18.
Nicholas Cendoya, 19, was airlifted to Mission Hospital last night after a male hiker from the rescue team notified crew 18 at 7:50 p.m., fire officials said.
Kyndall Jack, 18, was found at 12:11 this afternoon in Cleveland National Forest in Orange County and was airlifted to the UC Irvine Medical Center, according to Jon Muir, information officer for the Orange County Fire Authority.
According to Muir, the crew made contact with the first victim at 8:56 p.m. Wednesday night after cutting a massive amount of brush.
“They lowered one of our technical rescue experts down in with the assistance of crew 18, they secured the patient in a stokes basket, and they airlifted Nicholas up into the helicopter,” Muir said.
At 9:27 p.m. the helicopter transported Cendoya to Mission Hospital’s trauma center in Mission Viejo.
“Nicholas was alert, but he was disoriented, dehydrated, and weak,” said Muir. “He was talking but he was confused.”
Muir said that they used infrared technology to continue searching for the second victim Wednesday night but were unsuccessful until 12:11 p.m. this afternoon.
“She was rescued and taken to the UCI Medical center via helicopter,” said Muir. “She was alive and stable and her family is very happy.”
It’s still unknown as to why they were separated.
“How is it, in 2013, that people are missing for four days out in the woods with the technology that we have right now?” Said Daniel Calderon, mechanical engineer major. “Thankfully they were found alive because it would have been such a shame for everyone.”
Helicopters took victim one to Mission Hospital and Victim two, Jack, to UC Irvine Medical Center. (Sean Byrne)
After a four day search for the missing hikers, they have been found and airlifted to Orange County hospitals for further evaluation. (Sean Byrne)
Helicopter one transported victim one last night and the second victim this afternoon. (Sean Byrne)
Cendoya was airlifted Wednesday night and transported to Mission Hospital after missing since Easter Sunday. (Sean Byrne)