News

Released: September 20, 2011 - Tuesday, 05:57 PM

Missing Person - At Risk - Rescued

Contact: Rob BrynPhone: (805) 781-4547Date and time of incident: 9-20-11 4:00 PMPlace of Occurrence: Lariat & Clark Valley, off Los Osos Valley Rd.Victim Information: Felisa LizadaSuspect Information: N/AA San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Search & Rescue(SAR) K-9 team located a 62 year old female dementia patient Tuesday afternoon after she was reported missing on Monday. Sheriff's SAR K-9 handler Doug Smee and his dog Lassie found the woman in thick brush near a creek off Los Osos Valley Rd. The woman had sustained moderate injures that were consistent with a fall. A coordinated effort by SLO SAR, Monterey Sheriff SAR and Cal Fire units using cliff rescue techniques were able to lift the woman out of the lower creek bed, where she could be transported to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center for treatment. A total of 55 rescue personnel from Santa Cruz, Monterey, Kern, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties participated in the 24 hour search. CHP air units also flew the operation, that included an FBI bloodhound and SLO Sheriff's Mounted Posse. The Salvation Army supplied the ground teams with a mobile canteen. Reverse 911 was deployed with 15000 calls made to area residents to alert them of the missing person.
"I am very proud of our search effort that yielded this result, I am not sure the victim could have endured another evening in the creek bed." said SLO SAR Incident Commander Woody Wadsworth.