Trapped hikers flown to safety from Marin County beach

Three hikers boxed in at Point Reyes ocean cove between a rising tide and a sheer cliff found a way out aboard a CHP helicopter.

Sunday’s rescue happened on a beach north of Bolinas, according to the CHP. The trio had gone from Palomarin to Alamere Falls, apparently not taking the tide into account, said John Dell’Osso, spokesman for the Point Reyes National Seashore.

As they made their return trip, they realized they were in trouble and called 911. Rangers were alerted and tried to get to them from the cliff, then called the CHP helicopter for help at about 4:30 p.m.

A state highway helicopter found the hikers but no safe area to land. Instead, a CHP officer piloting the helicopter hovered about one foot over the sand and water and the crew loaded two of the three hikers, according to the CHP.

They were carried to the Bolinas fire station where they were met by park rangers. The helicopter then returned for the third person.

No one was injured.

It was a busy weekend for rescues. The Sonoma County sheriff’s helicopter on Sunday responded to four rescues, including hikers and a near-drowning victim.

- Randi Rossmann