The Curry County Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch received information from the Brookings Police Dispatch, of a call from a person who had been hiking the coastal trail near Natural Bridges, about twelve miles north of Brookings, at approximately 2:35 p.m. Sunday April 21.
The caller relayed that he had seen a person on the rocks below him that appeared to be deceased. Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area along with an Oregon State trooper. The Curry County Sheriff’s SAR team was also called to the scene.
“Several SAR members set up a raising system and SAR members Andy Stubbs and Tim Hawkins rappelled approximately 300’ down to the victim,” according to a Curry County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post. “Due to the location and steep terrain, additional help was requested.”
Members from Cape Ferello and the Brookings Fire Department arrived along with a USFS law enforcement officer to help carry the victim back to the parking area where the victim was released to Redwood Memorial. The victim was identified as 69-year-old Richard Ehrhart from San Jose, California.