Man Rescued by Helicopter After Suffering From Gunshot Wound For Days in Canyon

WEST STANISLAUS COUNTY – Authorities rescued a man found deep in Del Puerto Canyon after he had been suffering a gun shot wound since Monday.

Early Monday morning the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department received a call from a phone that can only make 911 calls. The caller stated someone was shot near Frank Raines Park and the call then disconnected.

Although the caller was unreachable because of the 911 only cell phone, authorities searched the area but did not find a shooting victim.

Later around 6:00 in the morning, someone called the Sheriff’s Department and again stated there was a shooting victim in the area of Del Puerto Canyon. After searching the large area again, the victim was not found and the search was called off.

Two days later authorities received the same call about a shooting victim in the canyon. This time contact was made with the caller. The caller stated they were working in an illegal marijuana grow and a robbery had occurred by several armed men at the grow, leaving someone shot.

The caller treated the shooting victim and told them they would get help.

A search for the victim began during daylight Wednesday morning because of inconsistent directions from the caller.

The Sheriff’s helicopter was able to locate the shooting victim after he waved officers down, just before 11:00 in the morning Wednesday. The victim was found in a remote area near the marijuana grow.

Because the natural environment was rough and inaccessible by ground, authorities utilized the Sheriff helicopter to conduct a rescue of the victim. The helicopter used a rescue harness attached to a line to airlift the victim. He was flown to Frank Raines Park were an ambulance was waiting for him.

The victim was only identified as a Hispanic male in his late 20s.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact detectives at (209) 525-7114, or Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636 where callers can remain anonymous.