GAVIOTA A man in his 70s suffered critical injuries after falling off a horse and into a canyon Tuesday morning at the Hollister Ranch, authorities said.
Santa Barbara County Fire Department personnel were dispatched to the area at approximately 11:12 a.m., along with an Air Support helicopter, personnel with American Medical Response and a search and rescue team. The first engine company arrived located a single patient who fell off the horse and fell approximately 100 yards down a ravine, said Capt. Daneil Bertucelli, fire spokesman.
The helicopter was able to reach the patient and conduct a hoist operation. The patient, whose name was withheld, was secured into a basket before being transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. His condition was described as critical as of Tuesday afternoon, Capt. Bertucelli said.
Ambulance personnel and the rescue team remained on scene but were not deployed due to the inaccessibility of the patient, he said.
