Man Rescued by Helicopter in San Juan Capistrano

Originally posted at 10:44 p.m. Dec. 28, 2013. Edited to add photos.

A 57-year-old man who broke an ankle today while trying to retrieve his downed remote-controlled airplane from steep terrain in San Juan Capistrano was hoisted to safety by a rescue helicopter, authorities said.

The man was injured around 3 p.m. in the area of Calle Andalucia and Paseo Peregrino, said Capt. Steve Concialdi of the Orange County Fire Authority.

The victim ventured onto steep, uneven terrain to retrieve the plane and fell into a 10-foot hole that was obscured by brush, Concialdi said.

He suffered a severely broken right ankle and was rescued by urban search and rescue firefighters from Mission Viejo who were lowered from an OCFA helicopter, Concialdi said.

The man was put into a Stokes basket and hoisted to an awaiting ambulance that took  him to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, where he was to undergo surgery, Concialdi said.

-- City News Service