Sheriff: Two Lost Hikers Rescued

A stranded Murrieta man and his injured female companion were rescued today after a wayward hike.

Jemal Shatemirov, 25, and Larisa Yusupdzhanova, 33, both of Murrieta, lost their way while trekking through the Cleveland National Forest west of the city.

The two became stranded around 8 p.m. Sunday about eight miles from the Tenaja trailhead after the latter suffered a leg injury, according to Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Ken Chaffin.

He said the hikers called 911 when they couldn't make it out of the woods, and the county's Mountain Rescue Unit was activated, with a team a going into the area shortly before 11 p.m. in an attempt to locate the pair.

Chaffin said the hikers remained in contact with searchers by cell phone throughout the night, and by 8:45 a.m. today, the two were found and airlifted to safety.

Sheriff's deputies have been called numerous times to rescue stranded hikers ill-prepared for the rigorous terrain in the mountains east of Murrieta.

Two hikers stranded in the dark were in September 2011 after phoning for help; three additional hikers were in December 2010.

Chaffin said the recent incident highlighted the importance of preparedness, which means a "well-thought-out travel plan shared with friends and family, as well as familiarity with common hiking equipment ... proper clothing and plenty of water."

City News Service and David Leonard contributed to this report.