Klamath County, ORE– On Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at 2:21 PM, Klamath County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched regarding a report of a 17-year-old stuck on a cliff near the top of Hagelstein Ridge above Highway 97.
It was determined that the young man trekked down the steep rocky surface more than 200 feet from the top of a cliff in an attempt to save the family dog, a 3-year-old Boxer named “Wiggy”.
Wiggy had become separated from the family three days earlier while on an outing. The family returned several times to search for Wiggy until early Tuesday afternoon.
The family said they’d almost lost hope when they heard Wiggy whining from below the rocky drop-off.
The Klamath Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) team was activated and responded to Hagelstein Ridge.
The SAR team lowered a member, trained in technical ropes rescue, over 40 feet from the edge of the cliff while still
suspended over an additional 80-foot drop-off.
The team safely and successfully brought the young man and Wiggy back to safety.
No one was injured in the rescue event and all were grateful to be back on level ground.
The Klamath County Search and Rescue Team is comprised of volunteers from our community
willing to risk their lives for others.
We are exceptionally appreciative of our rescue teams.
Through their teamwork and extensive training, another family is reunited.
The search and rescue capabilities of the Sheriff’s Office include different specialty disciplines; including SAR (ground and
mounted), Dive Rescue, Small Boat Rescue, and K9 search resources
(Reprinted from Klamath Sheriff’s Press release)
