A Coast Guard aircrew assisted Coos Bay Fire and Rescue personnel in rescuing an injured hiker Friday evening after he fell off a cliff in Sunset Bay in Charleston. The aircrew aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, from Sector North Bend hoisted the 20-year-old injured hiker and transported him to Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay in stable condition. The Coast Guard was notified of the incident by Coos Bay Fire Department 911 Dispatch at 4:38 p.m., and a rescue aircrew was on scene at 5:23 p.m. The aircrew lowered an aviation survival technician down to the rocky shoreline to assist rescuers in tending to the hiker who fell. The AST then strapped the hiker onto a litter and the aircrew hoisted him to the helicopter. “We remind those who enjoy the scenery along the Oregon Coast to stay on the trail and avoid slippery areas that can lead to dangerous falls,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Priscilla Quiroz, operations specialist, Sector North Bend. The hiker was delivered to hospital personnel at 6:04 p.m., for further care. The injuries are reported to be bruises and lacerations to the body and head.
