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A 26-year-old man who went missing while rafting on Oregon’s Illinois River was found and rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter after enduring five days in the wilderness.
Gabriel Vaughn was last spotted at approximately 4:15 p.m. on Monday near Greenwall Rapids as part of a rafting group, according to the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office.
At the time of his disappearance, Vaughn was equipped with a blue dry suit, helmet, and life jacket. He informed fellow rafters that he intended to hike into the woods and make his way toward the Chetco drainage, as reported by the sheriff’s office.
When Vaughn did not return as expected, a comprehensive search was initiated. This operation included efforts from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team as well as the U.S. Coast Guard.
Gabriel Vaughn, 26, went missing after deciding to hike alone from a rafting expedition on Oregon’s Illinois River, officials confirmed. (Josephine County Sheriff’s Office)
The Coast Guard said an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station North Bend conducted multiple aerial searches throughout the week after receiving a request for assistance from the Oregon Search and Rescue coordinator.
The U.S. Coast Guard conducted multiple aerial searches for Vaughn throughout the week, officials said. (U.S. Coast Guard)
On Friday morning, a private party working with search teams found Vaughn in the Illinois River Valley, approximately two miles downstream from where he was last seen, officials said.
Rescuers determined he could not be safely evacuated on foot due to injuries to his hands and feet and requested helicopter support, according to the Coast Guard.
Due to injuries to Vaughn’s hands and feet, a Coast Guard helicopter had to hoist the missing rafter to safety, the Coast Guard said. (U.S. Coast Guard)
The Coast Guard helicopter arrived and lowered a rescue swimmer to hoist Vaughn to safety. He was flown to Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay for evaluation.
Vaughn was taken to a hospital for treatment, though officials did not detail the extent of his injuries. (Josephine County Sheriff’s Office)
Authorities did not immediately release details about how Vaughn survived in the remote terrain or the extent of his injuries.
The search effort spanned several days and required close coordination between federal and local responders, the Coast Guard said.