Late Sunday evening, Sunday, August 13th, Curry County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a call from International Response regarding an activation of a Garmin emergency device just after 11:00pm.
The information received regarded 35 year old Austin Headrick from Grants Pass, who had activated the emergency device and sent messages that he had a broken ankle, was hyperthermic and did not know where he was.
Through text messages it was learned that Headrick had been rafting with a large group of about 25 others on the Rogue River and after starting at Grave Creek on Friday, was supposed to take out at Foster Bar above Agness. Dispatch was able to track the Garmin Device with International Response and discovered Headrick kept moving down river and was several miles below Agness.
A Curry County Patrol Sergeant responded to the area and determined the closest take-out point would be Quosatana Creek boat ramp. A text message was sent to Headrick to let him know that an ambulance would be waiting at the boat ramp there. Headrick responded that he would not make it there due to his condition.
At about 3:15am, very early Monday morning, August 14th, the Sheriff’s Office contacted Search and Rescue member Ryan McGinnis with knowledge, skills and expertise to see if he could respond with specialized boat.
McGinnis responded to Quosatana Creek boat ramp, launched with a paramedic on board and in complete darkness navigated about four miles above Quosatana Creek, located Headrick and was able to transport him and his kayak down to the boat ramp where Cal Ore Life Flight was waiting.
Headrick was then transported to Curry General Hospital, treated, and released a few hours later.
