The Benton County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) search and rescue teams successfully located a missing 77-year-old male who had been reported missing by a family member the previous night.
The individual, a resident of Corvallis, ventured out for mushroom hunting, west of Philomath. The search operation, initiated by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Marys Peak Search and Rescue (MPSAR), Corvallis Mountain Rescue Unit (CMRU), and Region 3 K9 Search & Rescue, began Wednesday night.
Thanksgiving Day saw an expanded effort with additional support from Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Lane County Sheriff’s Office, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Coast Guard. The missing man was located around 3:30 pm on Thursday, November 23, approximately a mile and a half from his vehicle, down a steep drainage near a creek.
The 77-year-old, who was in a weakened state after recent back surgery, had faced challenges due to his inability to hear rescuers without his hearing aids. Wearing wool socks with crocs in dropping temperatures, he had tried to stay mobile through the night to stay warm. Unfortunately, lacking essential gear like a whistle, his situation worsened.
Expressing gratitude, Sheriff Van Arsdall remarked, “Thank you to all who helped on this mission. Many volunteers sacrificed time away from family and friends on Thanksgiving Day to ensure this search had a positive outcome. We know you don’t do it for recognition but want the community to know what amazing resources our Office has to keep the community safe.”
The rescued hiker was airlifted to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis for further medical assessment and care. No additional information was released by officials at this time.
Source: BCSO
Discover more from Medford Alert News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
