Updated Monday, Nov. 10 – 9:50 am
Search and rescue teams today found 15 missing members of a church group who failed to return as scheduled from a hike in Eaton Canyon Park in the Pasadena area, and they appeared to be OK, authorities said.
The rescuers were sent to the area after 10 p.m. Sunday, when officials were notified that the hikers were missing, Deputy Kelvin Moody said.
A search by ground teams was done in the pre-dawn hours, and two helicopter crews were added about 7 a.m. About two hours afterward, a helicopter crew spotted the group, and all appeared to be accounted for, said Deputy Johnie Jones.
A paramedic was lowered from the helicopter to examine the hikers, and they appeared be OK, Jones said. Arrangements were being made to bring the hikers to safety, Jones said.
The 15 hikers range in age from 14 to 36, Jones said. Two people whom deputies encountered late Sunday night in the area were not among the missing hikers as had been thought, but were other people who had gone to the scene to try to find the missing hikers, Jones said. The group reportedly is associated with a Seventh Day Adventist church.
Shortly before the hikers were found, another hiker who was not connected with the group was hoisted from the rugged terrain, Jones said.
