Injured man airlifted after refusing help

Rescuers airlifted a Newport Beach man to safety out of a canyon near Indian Wells Wednesday after he spent two days in the rugged desert terrain and resisted initial rescue efforts.

“They actually found him Tuesday, but he ran away,” said Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy Herlinda Valenzuela. “He didn’t want to have any contact with law enforcement.”

Newport resident Craig Tobin, 42, was taken by ambulance to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs with non-life-threatening injuries about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday after rescuers found him at the bottom of a canyon in the Santa Rosa Mountains, Valenzuela said.

Rescuers believe the man fell into the canyon while trying to climb down a cliff.

Craig Tobin was reported missing Monday, along with father, Hal Tobin, 68, of Rancho Mirage. They were believed to be driving on Highway 74 to Newport Beach in Craig Tobin’s Hummer.

Investigators found Hal Tobin after he flagged down a motorist on Highway 74 near Pinyon, and he was taken to nearby fire station. He was later treated for his injuries at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage.

The father told investigators his son’s Hummer ran off the road after the accelerator malfunctioned, Valenzuela said. Law enforcement officials found the Hummer in a ravine off Highway 74 and later discovered Craig Tobin walking in a canyon about 6 p.m. Tuesday east of the highway.

Riverside County Sheriff’s Department officers called off rescue efforts when Craig Tobin turned down their help and it started to get dark, Valenzuela said. The weather was fair, so law enforcement officials left Craig Tobin to spend the night in the canyon, she said.

“He had no warrants and was not a known criminal, so it’s kind of bizarre he did not want to have contact with the rescuers, but that’s something he’s allowed to do,” Valenzuela said.

Rescuers resumed their efforts at 6 a.m. Wednesday and eventually found Craig Tobin again in a canyon. The man was injured so sheriff’s department officials initiated an airlift.

BRIANNA BAILEY may be reached at (714) 966-4625 or at [email protected].