Grant County SAR activated after man breaks hip landing a fish
By Logan Bagett on Monday, September 23rd, 2024 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories
GRANITE, OR – Grant County Sheriff Todd McKinley issued a press release regarding Search and Rescue activity over the weekend. Read the full release below:
(Press Release from Grant County Sheriff Todd McKinley)
On the evening of September 22nd, near 6:15 pm, the Grant County Emergency Communication Center received a call from a family member of Gary Wenzel, 66 of Reedsport that Gary had activated an emergency beacon.
The coordinates from the beacon placed Gary several miles inside the North Fork John Day Wilderness boundary near Mt. Ireland and Baldy lake, north east of the town of Granite.
Life Flight 12 based on La Grande responded as well as units from the Baker County Search and Rescue to assist the Grant County and Blue Mountain Hospital personnel. Friends and hunters already in the area, along with Life Fight twelve’s medical staff hiked to the location and were able to determine the exact location and reason for Gary’s emergency beacon activation. He had landed a large fish, and then slipped and fell at the lakes edge, breaking his hip.
Due to the primitive condition and steepness of the trail leading to Baldy Lake, it was determined that flying Gary from that location was the only alternative. A National Guard rescue helicopter with a winch was sought, but would not arrive until daybreak. Life Flight, after several attempts at landing in the vicinity, was able to land on the southern lakeshore resulting in a much easier extrication of Mr. Wenzel from the area.
Gary was flown to Walla Walla and the crews who were out all night on the ground, returned to base at 0500 am.
Sheriff McKinley would like to thank all those who were involved in this rescue, and to remind people that this is another case where preparedness beforehand by the injured party, made all the difference between life and death. Had it not been for Gary’s satellite beacon activation, the outcome would have been dire.
Todd McKinley
Sheriff
