And they waited with Kilburn and Grasso while help slowly made its way the 40 miles from Redding. By 6:30 p.m., a CHP helicopter piloted by Officer Brian Henderson circled and circled the nearby valley before spotting a small flat spot 100 feet below the injured doctor.

Kilburn was facing away from the helicopter.

"None of us thought he'd be able to land the helicopter," he said. "It was a brilliantly executed landing. The kids were cheering when the pilot finally cut the engine. And then I heard the kids saying, 'Oh, my God! Oh, my God! It's terrible!'

"My friend says, 'Dude, this guy got hit in the head with the main rotor.'

"I said, 'Get me down there immediately.' I was trying to run with one leg. It was a nightmare getting down there."

Together, all of them saved a life.

Stanley, the paramedic, was hit by the main rotor rushing to rescue Kilburn. At Stanley's request, CHP officials declined to release more details about the extent of what happened to him.