Curry County Search & Rescue helped a sheriff's deputy get to safety on Wednesday. | Photo courtesy of Sheriff John Ward

From Curry County Sheriff John Ward:

On 06-14-2023, the Curry County Sheriff’s 911 Dispatch center received a 911 call from a caller reporting debris from a boat on the beach just north of Sisters Rock, close to milepost 315 off Highway 101 between Port Orford and Gold Beach. A call was placed to the U.S. Coast Guard, and they asked that if any law enforcement was in the area, to get eyes on, take photographs and report back. 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, and the debris was more than likely from that boat that was already investigated.

A Curry County Patrol Deputy arrived in the area and met with the 911 caller. Deputy John Mackenzie walked down the beach along the shoreline to reach the area where the debris was located. Deputy MacKenzie had decided to try and climb a steep embankment to get a better photo shot of the debris and found himself in a predicament where he was stuck on the hillside and could not go up or back down safely. Deputy Mackenzie was able to radio out to dispatch for help. The Curry County SAR rope team was asked to respond. Chief Jordan White of the Gold Beach Police Department and myself responded to the area and assisted the SAR rope team. With his many years of experience and qualifications in Search and Rescue, Chief White rappelled over the edge and attached a harness to Deputy Mackenzie and then lowered him about fifty feet back down to the beach floor.

Deputy Mackenzie was uninjured except for his pride. Besides the Sheriff’s Deputies and Admin, a big shout out to the SAR members who responded, Craig Rasbury, Tad Bell, Mike Merica, Brandon McGinnis, Jesse Fletcher and Art Tarin. Good job team!

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