Curry County Sheriff's Office press release:

On Saturday, the Brookings Police Department Dispatch contacted the Curry County Sheriff’s Office and requested the assistance from the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue rope team. 

The SAR team was asked to respond to the end of Tanbark Road in Brookings regarding a 73-year-old man who had fallen over the side of a cliff and was unresponsive.   

Brookings Police, Brookings Fire Department and Cal Ore Life Flight were paged and were on scene. Sheriff’s Deputies responded along with Search and Rescue and prior to their arrival, Brookings Fire Department were able to secure a rope system and anchor points while a few first responders tried to hike up from below. 

Unable to reach the person from below, two SAR members rappelled about 30 feet down to the victim and determined that 73-year-old Brookings’s resident Jerry Haddock was deceased. 

The ground rope teams which included the Brookings Fire Department and Search and Rescue lowered a stokes basket to the two SAR members, Haddock was secured inside and then raised back to the top of the steep bank.

The Brookings Police Department continued the investigation.

The Curry County Sheriff’s Office and SAR team send our deepest condolences to the family of Jerry Haddock. We also appreciate the help of the Brookings Fire Department who were instrumental in having the rope system in place and assisting in a safe recovery.

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