Mt. Diablo hiker rescued by helicopter

A hiker was rescued by helicopter after becoming dehydrated and unable to walk in Mt. Diablo State Park near Clayton on Sunday afternoon, a fire captain said Monday.

A Cal Fire helicopter was dispatched around 3 p.m. Sunday to a report of a hiker who was unable to make the roughly one-mile trek through rugged terrain to exit the park, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Capt. George Laing said.

Laing said a rescuer and the hiker, a 50-year-old man, were connected to a harness and lifted into the helicopter, which took the patient to a hospital.

The man was said to be in good condition.

Laing said:

“Using a Cal Fire helicopter takes a lot of close coordination, and good communication resulted in a successful outcome here.”