Man and Two Sons Rescued by Helicopter Crew in Joshua Tree National Park

A Twentynine Palms man and his two young sons called for help from Rattlesnake Canyon in Joshua Tree National Park and a helicopter crew rescued them, sheriff's officials said Wednesday.

Marco Lish, 32, was with his 2-year-old and 4-year-old sons in Rattlesnake Canyon when they became dehydrated and exhausted, sheriff's officials said.

"They were in a remote area of the park and surrounded by rocky terrain," a sheriff's news release stated. " Unable to continue, Lish called his wife and requested assistance from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department."

Sheriff's patrol helicopter 40 King 3 with Pilot Deputy Mike Gilley and Deputy Doug Brimmer responded and located Lish and his two sons, but they were unable to land due to the steep terrain, sheriff's officials said.

Because Lish and his sons were reported to be severely dehydrated, a crew in a hoist-equipped helicopter was immediately called in. Pilot Corporal Brian Miller, Crewchief Deputy Carlos Quezada, Deputy Mike Gilley responded just before 7:30 p.m.

"They flew up the canyon and hoisted Deputy Gilley down to the victims to outfit them with extraction rescue equipment," sheriff's officials said. "All of the victims were safely hoisted out and transported back down to the landing site where fire and medical personnel were waiting."

Rattlesnake Canyon is southwest of Twentynine Palms. Given the rough terrain  and limited daylight, medical personnel likely would not have been able to hike to the victims before dark, according to sheriff's officials.