MADERA COUNTY – Sheriff John Anderson offered his thanks today for the tremendous support received during the recent Search & Rescue (SAR) mission in the Sierra National Forest.
The joint operation, launched shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10, was carried out by personnel from the Madera County Sheriff’s Office, Yosemite National Park and the California Highway Patrol.
- Five Madera County Deputy Sheriffs
- Twelve Madera County Search & Rescue Team volunteers
- Two K-9 search teams (YODOGS) from Yosemite National Park
- Yosemite National Park Mounted Rangers
- California Highway Patrol H-40 Air Ops team, which not only assisted in the search, but airlifted the overdue hiker out of the high country to Batterson Station in Oakhurst.
Had rescue crews not found Goldman last night, another half-dozen foot-search teams from Yosemite National park, and Air National Guard personnel were prepared to assist in the search, beginning at dawn today. Air National Guard had a Blackhawk helicopter standing by.
The overdue hiker, who is now reported to be in good condition, was located within Yosemite National Park at an elevation of 8,000 feet. Crews were able to find him thanks to a GPS signal. After receiving the coordinates, search crews formed a grid search, fanned out, and shortly before 11 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10, made contact.
Unable to extract him in the pitch black darkness, five SAR personnel stayed with the hiker over night. Once hoisted out safely, Goldman’s 5-man rescue team hiked out of the wilderness.
The Madera County Sheriff’s SAR Team currently includes approximately 80 volunteers. The nationally certified team trains year around, and conducts both rescue and recovery missions throughout the year.
One of their roles includes Operation Lost and Found (OLF). Each client in the OLF program is assigned to a SAR volunteer, who is responsible for maintaining the client’s bracelet, and initiating immediate searches in the event the client wanders away.
Anyone interested in learning more about the Madera County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue Team should call Sergeant Jim Bernardi, at 559-642-3201.
