Curry County Sheriff’s Deputy Investigating Report of Boat Debris, Rescued from Hillside

The Curry County Sheriff’s 911 Dispatch center received a 911 call on Wednesday, June 14th, from an individual reporting debris from a boat on the beach just north of Sisters Rock, between Port Orford and Gold Beach.  

A call was then placed to the U.S. Coast Guard, and since the Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police and the Coast Guard were aware of a boat that had capsized a week earlier in that area, it was requested that law enforcement confirm the observation if possible, take photographs and report back to confirm that the debris was not from the boat that had previously been investigated.  

A Curry County Patrol Deputy arrived in the area and met with the 911 caller and walked down the beach along the shoreline to reach the area where the debris was located.

In an effort to obtain a better photo of the debris, the Deputy climbed a steep embankment, ultimately finding himself in a position where could not safely go up or back down, and was stuck on the hillside.  

The Deputy was able to radio from his location to dispatch for help, and the Curry County Search and Rescue rope team was asked to respond.

Both Sheriff John Ward and Chief Jordan White of the Gold Beach Police Department responded to the area and assisted the Search and Rescue rope team.

Chief White, with his many years of experience and qualifications in Search and Rescue, rappelled over the edge and attached a harness to the Deputy before lowering him approximately fifty feet down to the beach floor.  

The Deputy was uninjured.