Drone Guides Helicopter Rescue of Canyoneer Trapped Behind Waterfall
Ryan Wardwell was rescued after two days trapped by the waterfall's strong currents using drone surveillance and a helicopter hoist, suffering only minor injuries, authorities said.
- Ryan Wardell, a 46-year-old man from Long Beach, was found and rescued by authorities after spending two days stranded near the Seven Teacups waterfalls.
- On August 10, Wardell attempted to rappel down the waterfalls but encountered a failure with his gear that left him stranded behind the falls, caught by the river's powerful currents.
- The Tulare County Sheriff's Swiftwater-Dive Rescue and Search teams began their search early Tuesday morning, using a drone to locate Wardell behind the waterfall.
- The California Highway Patrol airlifted Wardell to safety, where medical personnel assessed him for minor health issues related to dehydration before he was joined by his relatives at a nearby landing site.
- Officials urged outdoor enthusiasts to recognize their surroundings and assess their own skills carefully, particularly when engaging in activities in challenging areas like white water rivers, highlighting the importance of exercising caution.
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Ryan Wardwell, 46, had planned to go down the Seven Teacups waterfalls in California as a reminder before being trapped. He was rescued by helicopter two days later.
A 46-year-old man was rescued last week after two days in a hollow space behind a California waterfall. Ryan Wardwell, an experienced climber, was rappelling in the Seven Teacups area when he became trapped behind the roaring water.

Long Beach man rescued after being trapped for 2 days behind waterfall near the North Fork of the Kern River
California police used a helicopter to rescue a man who got trapped for two days behind a waterfall when the force of the water pushed him off his climbing lines, law enforcement official said. Ryan Wardwell, 46, of Long Beach, California, had planned to rappel down waterfalls known as the Seven Teacups on Sunday, Aug. 10, in a remote area about two hours south of Sequoia National Park, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office said. He never returned …
‘Stunning survival story’: Fallen hiker spends 2 harrowing days behind ‘extreme’ waterfall
Hiker Ryan Wardwell became trapped behind an "extreme'' rushing waterfall at a popular California rappelling spot for two harrowing days before being rescued, authorities said -- calling his tale "a stunning survival story.''
46-year-old climber Ryan Wardwell was trapped two days behind a waterfall at Seven Teacups Falls in eastern California.The accident occurred on August 10, when the force of water pushed him or pulled him off the ropes and caught him behind the falls.What does a hurricane look like inside?Hurricane hunters show unprecedented images of ErinThe search began on August 11, police deployed helicopters, drones and infrared cameras, but the darkness and…
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