Information was received regarding a call from a person who had been hiking the coastal trail near Natural Bridges, about twelve miles north of Brookings by the Curry County Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch from the Brookings Police Dispatch at about 2:35pm, Sunday afternoon.
The caller reported 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 and the Curry County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team was summoned to respond.
Upon arrival, several Search and Rescue members set up a raising system.
After search and rescue members rappelled the approximately 300’ down to the victim, it was determined that due to the location and steep terrain, additional help would be required.
Members from Cape Ferello and the Brookings Fire Department arrived along with a U.S. Forest Service 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, who had been hiking with his wife. They had separated on the trail, and the wife returned to their car, unknowingly that her husband had fallen.
A Chaplin had been called and responded to assist with the notification to Ehrhart’s wife, Susan Kimura.
The Oregon State Police is the lead agency for the investigation and has provided the information to the Curry County District Attorney.
