Calls for help fail as man stuck in snow tries to dig vehicle out, CA rescuers say
A man stranded in the snow while off-roading was rescued after sending a text message to his girlfriend when his calls failed, a California sheriff said.
The 31-year-old’s vehicle got stuck in deep snow in the Lytle Creek area of Coldwater Canyon on Tuesday, Feb. 28, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said in a March 2 news release.
The man was off-roading in a remote area of the San Gabriel Mountains within San Bernardino County, which issued a state of emergency the day prior following the weekend’s heavy snowfall, which left some residents snowed in and others unable to return home, McClatchy News previously reported.
Gov. Gavin Newsom also proclaimed a state of emergency on Wednesday, March 1, for the county and 12 others because of winter storms that have battered mountain communities, The Fresno Bee reported.
Though the man tried to dig out his vehicle, he could not, as about 4 more feet of snow continued to fall, the sheriff’s department said.
He tried calling for help, but poor cellphone reception in the area kept his calls from going through, deputies said. The man sent a text message to his girlfriend at around 1 a.m. the next day telling her he was stranded in the snow.
She called 911 shortly after 5:30 a.m., prompting a rescue for the man, the sheriff’s department said.
Deputies said they could not reach the man by car because of the heavy snowfall.
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Instead, they sent a helicopter crew to the area, and rescuers took the man, who was not injured, to meet with Fontana Station deputies, the sheriff’s department said.
What to do if you get stranded in cold weather
When the body is exposed to prolonged cold temperatures, it starts to lose heat faster than it can produce it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Prolonged exposure to cold will eventually use up your body’s stored energy,” the CDC said. “The result is hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature.”
Low body temperatures can impact the brain and cause people to be unable to move or think clearly. However, the National Weather Service said there are ways to help you stay safe.
If you’re outside in cold weather, find shelter and stay dry. Cover every part of your body that’s exposed to the cold air.
If there’s nowhere to go nearby, build a windbreak or snow cave for protection. You should also continue to move your body to keep blood circulating, but don’t overexert yourself, officials said.
If you get trapped in a vehicle during a storm, officials said you should stay inside it and stay visible to rescuers.
“Run the motor about 10 minutes each hour for heat,” the National Weather Service said. “While running the motor, open the window a little for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Clear snow from the exhaust pipe to avoid gas poisoning.”
This story was originally published March 2, 2023 at 1:51 PM with the headline "Calls for help fail as man stuck in snow tries to dig vehicle out, CA rescuers say."
