A missing hiker was rescued Sunday from Shore Acres State Park on the Oregon coast after being lost for nearly two days. Her cries for help alerted search and rescue teams who had been tirelessly looking for her, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed.
The 64-year-old woman, who became separated from her group on Friday evening, was found in a remote and rugged part of the park. According to the Coast Guard, she exhibited signs of hypothermia and dehydration but her full condition, including any other injuries, was not immediately clear.
The ordeal began when the hiker, without proper survival equipment, got lost in the dense wilderness. The Oregon State Police requested assistance from the Coast Guard, and over the weekend, search efforts included local county rescue teams, a regional task force, and the Coast Guard's helicopter crew. However, progress was hampered by inclement weather that temporarily grounded the flight team and limited their ability to utilize thermal imaging technology. Despite using infrared cameras, the woman remained undetected, as she had sought shelter under a log, making it difficult for her body heat to be picked up by the equipment.
Search teams on the ground eventually located the hiker in an isolated part of the park. She began shouting for help when she heard helicopters overhead, enabling the ground crew to pinpoint her location. Navigating through dense, untamed terrain, the team reached her and ensured her safety while waiting for the Coast Guard helicopter to arrive.
The rescue, captured on video, shows the Coast Guard helicopter hoisting the hiker to safety on a stretcher. Wrapped in a hypothermic bag, she was warmed by a fire built by the ground crew while they awaited her evacuation. The Coast Guard transported her to Bay Area Hospital in North Bend, Oregon, where emergency medical personnel took over her care.
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Jay Kircher, a commanding operations officer and helicopter pilot at Coast Guard Air Station North Bend, praised the collaboration between agencies. "The Coast Guard and our partner agencies on the Oregon Coast train together regularly to ensure we’re ready for missions like this," Kircher said in a statement. "This rescue is a testament to the effectiveness of teamwork and preparation, resulting in a successful outcome."
The rescue highlights the challenges and dangers of navigating Oregon’s rugged wilderness and underscores the importance of preparedness for outdoor adventures.
