Rafter Rescued After Five Days in Oregon Wilderness

A 26-year-old man, Gabriel Vaughn, who had been missing while rafting on Oregon’s Illinois River, has been rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter after spending five days alone in the wilderness.

According to the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, Vaughn was last seen around 4:15 p.m. on Monday while rafting with a group near Greenwall Rapids. He was dressed in a blue dry suit, helmet, and life vest when he decided to leave the group for a solo hike into the woods, mentioning he was heading towards the Chetco drainage.

When he didn’t return, the search began. The Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, along with the U.S. Coast Guard, launched a multi-day search effort to locate him.

The Coast Guard reported that their MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from North Bend Air Station conducted extensive aerial searches throughout the week, following a request for help from the Oregon State Search and Rescue Coordinator.

On Friday morning, a private search team found Vaughn in the Illinois River Valley, approximately two miles downstream from the last reported location. Rescuers discovered he had sustained injuries to his arms and legs, making it unsafe for him to walk out on his own, prompting them to call for helicopter assistance.

A Coast Guard helicopter arrived and lowered a rescue swimmer to bring Vaughn to safety. He was subsequently transported to Bay Area Hospital in Coos Bay for medical evaluation.

Details regarding how Vaughn managed to survive in such a remote area and the severity of his injuries have not yet been disclosed by authorities. The Coast Guard noted that the search involved significant collaboration between federal and local agencies over several days.