Injured botanist rescued by copter from San Clemente Island

A Los Angeles County sheriff's helicopter crew flew 60 miles off the coast on Monday to rescue a scientist with a serious leg injury. The 33-year-old botanist from Burbank was working on indigenous plant re-introduction when he fell 20 feet down a steep ravine, the Sheriff's Department said. The man could not move; a co-worker who saw the incident called for help. One of the sheriff's crew members taped the aerial rescue on a helmet camera. The LASD doesn't let their videos be embedded, but you can watch it on YouTube.

San Clemente Island is a Navy island out beyond Catalina — county territory covered by the Avalon sheriff's station.

Image of San Clemente Island from Google Earth