Crew Hoists Man From Steep Ravine After One Week After He Went Missing

The Coast Guard has rescued a missing hiker, Jerren Fisher, 26, near Six Mile trail in the southeast area of Olympic National Park.

Fisher had been missing for a week since September 8. An Olympic National Park search and rescue team located Fisher at about 4:35 p.m. on Sunday. They had verbal contact with him but could not access the area due to the steep grade where he was trapped inside a ravine.

At 5:10 pm, the Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles requested air rescue assistance. After arrival to the area, it took the aircrew about 30 minutes to locate the search party. Using a flashlight, the hiker was able to direct the helicopter to the area. Due to fuel constraints and the complexity of the rescue, another aircrew aboard a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Astoria was also dispatched to the scene. At 7:20 pm The Astoria aircrew took over and released their rescue swimmer into the ravine.

After hoisting Fisher from the ravine around 8pm, the Coast Guard aircrew landed at Olympia Regional Airport at 8:30 pm and transferred him to EMS in stable condition.

“Thanks to the National Park Service rescue teams who located the stranded hiker and were able to direct our aircrews to achieve a safe rescue,” said Lt. Cmdr. Colin Boyle, 13th District command center chief. “The Coast Guard urges hikers and mariners venturing into remote areas to have a plan for reliable communication to reach first responders if necessary.”

FMI: www.uscg.mil