San Juan Capistrano, United States - February 19, 2025 A routine trail ride turned into a life-or-death drama yesterday afternoon when Deuce, a strong and confident horse new to Orange County, slipped down a steep embankment. The surefooted steed, once a master of the trails near his former home in Hawaii, found himself stranded on a brush-covered slope, unable to climb back to safety. Miraculously, neither Deuce nor his owner were injured in the fall, but the clock was ticking to bring the horse out of danger. Firefighters from the Orange County Fire Authority sprang into action, first attempting to carve a pathway up the slope to lead Deuce out on foot. But the horse, perhaps rattled by his unfamiliar surroundings, refused to cooperate. As daylight faded, the team shifted gears. With the sun setting, they called in a helicopter, an experienced veterinarian, and a specialized harness to orchestrate an aerial escape. Sedated and secured, Deuce rose into the sky, guided by the steady hands of the fire authority’s helicopter crew. The chopper delivered him gently to The Shea Center, a nearby equine facility where firefighters often train for such rescues. It was a poetic landing spot for a horse whose life hung in the balance just moments before. The ordeal didn’t end there. Exhausted from the sedative and struggling to stand, Deuce faced a critical moment—veterinarians warned that getting him upright was essential to his survival. The Technical Rescue Firefighters stepped in once more, using a specialized rigging system to delicately hoist him to his feet. With their help, he took his first shaky steps back to his stable, where his relieved owner and the veterinarian awaited.