An aerial view of the caldera of Crater Lake National Park. Photo: U.S. Coast Guard/ Sector North Bend
Around 7,700 years ago, an extraordinarily violent volcanic eruption set off the collapse of a massive peak in what is now Oregon. That collapse formed Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the United States. The rim of the dormant volcanic crater sits atop vertical walls reaching 2,000 feet in height and is a tourist hotspot. On the afternoon of Monday, June 10, one of those tourists plummeted 800 feet straight down into the mouth of the caldera. Somehow, he survived the fall.
According to a news release from the United States Coast guard, the National Park Service called for assistance at 3:47 p.m. It requested helicopter support for an injured man who fell into the caldera near Rims Village. Forty minutes later, the Coast Guard showed up in an MH-65 Dolphin. By then, a rope rescue team had rappelled nearly 600 feet down into the caldera, where they could hear the man yelling for help.
An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter lands at a Crater Lake parking area to transfer the injured man to the hospital. Photo: U.S. Coast Guard/ Sector North Bend
In minutes, the aircrew was hovering above the injured man, who was hoisted to a nearby parking lot. From there, he was transferred to another helicopter and rushed to a hospital.
The man, whom authorities have not identified, suffered unspecified injuries, and although the Coast Guard and transport helicopter crew confirmed he survived the initial fall, his condition is unknown at this time.
“The Coast Guard did not provide an update on the man’s condition early Tuesday morning but said he was able to walk after the rescue,” wrote Christine Clarridge for The Seattle Times.
