Passerby’s 911 Call Leads to Dramatic Rescue of Oregon Man and Dog From 100-Foot Drop

A 45-year-old Reedsport, Oregon, man and his dog were rescued from the water at the bottom of a 100-foot embankment off USFS 1107, approximately the 8-mile marker in Curry County, on Tuesday, after a passerby reported hearing screams for help.

The Winchuck Fire Department and Cal-Or Ambulance responded to an emergency call at about 8:40 a.m., after a citizen caller reported to the Brookings Police Department that a possible vehicle was off the roadway and that they could hear someone yelling for help below the roadway.

Curry County Sgt Zane Van Zelf responded to the area after hearing the information over the radio, and at or about 8:56 a.m., Deputy Bryce Starbird also arrived on scene.

He determined that there was no vehicle off the roadway as reported, but someone was yelling and screaming from the steep embankment approximately 100 feet below the roadway, and he could not see the victim.

Andy Stubbs of the Curry County Sheriff’s Office SAR rope team arrived at about 10:09 a.m. and found 45-year-old Bruce Stacy after rappelling down the embankment. Bruce had a broken leg and was verbally unresponsive to the emergency personnel who arrived to assist him.

Although Bruce struggled with the emergency personnel as they rendered aid to him, he was restrained inside a stokes basket and pulled back up to the roadway. At the same time, Sheriff Deputies retrieved Bruce’s dog, Nola, who had been over the embankment and appeared very scared, and returned her to a patrol vehicle.

Bruce was then taken to Sutter Coast Hospital to get treated for his broken leg, hypothermia, and other injuries, while Nola was taken to Wild Rivers Animal Rescue’s shelter. Wild Rivers confirmed that the dog was reunited with its owner last night.