Rock Climber Rescued After Breaking Both Ankles

JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. -- A San Diego man who was rock scrambling without protection gear broke both ankles when he fell into a crevice and required rescue by volunteers, firefighters and a helicopter crew, authorities said Saturday.

Eran Agmon, 22, of San Diego, was climbing on boulders near the Live Oak picnic area Friday evening when he fell about 25 feet into a pile of boulders, park rangers said Saturday.

Agmon was wedged in a crevice with ankle fractures and his friends could not rescue him. One friend stayed with Agmon while another hiked out for help, authorities said.

Joshua Tree search-and-rescue volunteers responded, as well as a San Bernardino County sheriff's helicopter crew and Riverside County firefighters, park rangers said.

The rescuers got Agman out of the crevice at 11:21 p.m. He was flown to a Palm Springs hospital with ankle fractures and otherwise moderate injuries, Calfire/Riverside County fire spokeswoman Cheri Patterson said in a release.

The incident was the sixth search-and-rescue medical event reported this week in Joshua Tree National Park, rangers said.

The sprawling desert area is world-renowned for its granite boulders and rock formations. Some climbers use hardware and ropes for protection, but some climbers do not use protection gear there.