A UCSB student was airlifted out of Los Padres National Forest on Sunday with a broken ankle.

Henry Cruz, 18, was hiking in an area known as “the playground” near West Camino Cielo when the injury occurred. The Santa Barbara County Fire Dept., Los Padres Search and Rescue and Painted Cave Volunteer Fire Dept. responded to reports of the injured hiker at around 12:15 p.m.

Rescuers hiked over two miles of rugged terrain to find Cruz. A helicopter was dispatched from Ventura County to lift Cruz out of the area. Rescuers were lowered from the helicopter to the ground, where Cruz was placed in a harness and hoisted into the helicopter.

Cruz was taken to Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital for treatment.

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