Teenage hiker rescued after getting lost in Santa Paula Canyon

Rescue crews found a 16-year-old male juvenile who got lost while hiking in Santa Paula Canyon, authorities said Saturday.

Officials were first contacted at 6:28 p.m. Tuesday about a lost hiker on the Punch Bowl hiking trail. The 3-mile trail was damaged over the winter and has become difficult to follow in certain areas, according to authorities.

The hiker was able to get cellphone reception and called his friend who reported him lost to authorities.

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The Upper Ojai Search and Rescue Team and a sheriff's deputy responded to the trailhead to locate the missing hiker. The search team was able to call the lost hiker and get information about his possible location. The team determined the hiker was lost in the eastern fork of the canyon and responded to the area to pick up the lost juvenile.

Around 9 p.m. Tuesday, the team found the missing hiker and walked him back to the trailhead, where his family was waiting for him. He was uninjured as a result of the incident, authorities said.

Jeremy Childs is a breaking news and public safety reporter covering the night shift for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached by calling 805-437-0208 or emailing jeremy.childs@vcstar.com.