A Santa Barbara County helicopter conducted a hoist rescue Monday afternoon of a hiker on a front-country trail near Arlington Peak in the mountains above Santa Barbara.

The 45-year-old man had a medical emergency, and the county responded with a helicopter, Fire Department crews, and Search & Rescue Team personnel, according to emergency radio traffic.

Fire Capt. Scott Safechuck said the Tunnel Trail call came in at 12:39 p.m., and the hoist rescue was done around 1:30 p.m.

The man was taken by Air Support Unit Copter 964 to the Santa Barbara Airport with mild dehydration, Safechuck said, adding that the patient declined transport to the hospital.

His name was not released.

The county Fire Department and Sheriff’s Office jointly operate the Air Support Unit, which includes helicopters for search-and-rescue missions and hoisting people off difficult-to-access terrain.

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Noozhawk managing editor Giana Magnoli can be reached at gmagnoli@noozhawk.com.