Man Rescued After 300-Foot Fall Near Prospect

Prospect, Oregon- A man is recovering after falling nearly 300 feet down a Rogue River canyon cliff early Saturday morning near Prospect, according to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO).

Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon (ECSO) dispatchers received a 911 call at 2:19 a.m. on Oct. 4, reporting that a man had gone over the cliff in the 1100 block of Mill Creek Drive. Witnesses told dispatchers they could hear him calling for help from below.

Responding deputies and personnel from Jackson County Fire District 4 determined that a high-angle rope rescue would be required due to the steep canyon walls and the lack of access from below.

The JCSO Search and Rescue (SAR) Technical Rope Rescue Team, assisted by Jackson County Fire District 3’s Technical Rescue Team, conducted the complex operation. Using 400 feet of rope and a litter, SAR volunteers lowered rescuers into the canyon and successfully raised the injured man back to safety.

Due to the severity of his injuries, the man was airlifted by Mercy Flights to a Medford hospital, where he remains in stable condition, officials said.

The JCSO said the life-saving operation involved 42 combined volunteer hours from SAR personnel.