Crews rescue lost Thousand Oaks hiker in Santa Monica Mountains

Rescue crews saved a 76-year-old Thousand Oaks man after he did not return from a hike on Tuesday night, authorities said Saturday.

The incident was first reported at 3 p.m. Tuesday in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area near the Satwiwa Cultural Center.

The hiker's wife had called police after her husband failed to pick her up from the Janss Market Place in Thousand Oaks. Patrol officers saw the hiker's vehicle parked at the trail head and a search of the area was conducted.

The East County Search and Rescue Team and a rescue helicopter were dispatched to locate the hiker. The hiker had no cellphone, no food, and very little water on his person.

At 10:30 p.m., a ground searcher heard an unusual sound in the area of the Tri-Peaks and Fossil Trails. The searcher called out and learned it was the hiker, who reported he was uninjured and in good physical health, but was stuck off-trail near several large boulders. 

Within an hour a rescue copter arrived in the area and was able to hoist the hiker off the ground. The copter transported the hiker to the Lake Sherwood area and transferred him to a patrol vehicle which took him back to his car. 

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.