PCSO deputy Stinson administering first aid to the injured boy.

On 11-12-2011, at roughly 12:22 p.m., PCSO dispatch received a 911 call from a hiker who advised a 14-year-old boy was found injured inside Pepper Sauce Cave, along the north side of Mount Lemon.

The teen was approximately 50 ft. deep in the cave when he fell, severely injuring his leg. As PCSO responded with local EMS, a group of local citizens fashioned a leg splint from nearby tree branches to support the teen’s injured leg. Utilizing a plastic picnic table as a stretcher, the citizens secured the boy with a tarp and successfully carried him from the cave to the nearby trailhead to meet first responders.

Once at the trailhead, a PCSO deputy administered first aid but could not determine if the boy’s leg was broken or dislocated. Because the teen showed signs of hypothermia and shock, a helicopter was called to the Pepper Sauce Campground to transport the boy to the hospital.

Pictured are some of the citizens who helped rescue the boy.

With help from members with the Oracle Fire Department and personnel from Tri-City Ambulance, the teen was loaded onto the helicopter and flown out.

Thanks to efforts and courage demonstrated by the brave citizens, the total time of the rescue took less than one hour.