Heroes in our midst

Doctor, lawyers lauded for their rescue efforts


Malibu Search and Rescue Team

Malibu Search and Rescue Team

Three members of the Malibu Search and Rescue Team received awards for heroism last week from the Mountain Rescue Association, an organization that offers training and certification to search and rescue teams.

The awards were given for team members’ efforts to rescue four hikers who were stranded at Malibu Creek State Park on a rock in a rushing river during a torrential rainstorm in early 2014.

The rescuers are David Katz and Jack Garden, both attorneys, and Thad Woodward, a physician. The three men are reserve deputies with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department and have a total of 59 years of mountain rescue experience between them.

The awards were presented at a Mountain Rescue Association conference in Colorado in June and given to the local recipients July 7 during a team training in Calabasas.

The Malibu Search and Rescue team consists of 39 people, including reserve deputies and civilian volunteer specialists and volunteers.

So far this year the team has responded to 66 rescue calls.


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