At a Glance
- A man in his mid-30s was wedged 15 feet down a crevice beside the Willamette River in Eugene, Ore., on January 18, 2026
- Bystakers called 911 after spotting him; crews listed the call as a “possible cardiac arrest”
- The unidentified victim was hypothermic at 76°F body temperature and remains in critical condition
- Why it matters: Quick action by passers-by and a 20-person rescue team pulled the man from a spot where officials say he would not have survived much longer
A dramatic Sunday afternoon rescue unfolded near the University of Oregon when emergency crews pulled an unresponsive man from a deep rock crevice along the Willamette River diversion channel.
The Discovery
At approximately 3 p.m. on January 18, 2026, people walking the river path noticed a figure far below the trail edge. The person was stuck an estimated 10-15 feet down a narrow gap between a concrete diversion wall and large quarry stone. The observers dialed 911, launching what the Eugene Springfield Fire Department would later call an “unusual rescue operation.”
Dispatch records show the incident was first categorized as a “possible cardiac arrest,” a label that triggered a full-scale response. Within minutes, multiple fire engines, ladder trucks, and specialized rescue units converged on the scene south of the university campus.
Technical Extraction
Arriving crews found the man completely unresponsive and pinned tight by the rock walls. Battalion commanders requested additional staffing and equipment, bringing the total head-count to 20 personnel. Firefighters set up rope systems, built makeshift anchors into the quarry stone, and lowered a rescue basket into the crevice.
Photos released by the department show responders in helmets and harnesses working shoulder-to-shoulder to free the victim. The confined space forced crews to rotate positions frequently, slowing the extraction. After nearly an hour of rigging and lifting, the man was hoisted to trail level and transferred to a waiting ambulance.
Medical Condition
Paramedics noted the victim-a male in his mid-30s whose identity has not been released-was hypothermic. Core body temperature registered 76°F, well below the normal 98.6°F and low enough to trigger life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Medics initiated warming protocols and transported him to a local hospital in critical condition.
Community Role
Officials praised the walkers who first spotted the man and stayed on scene to direct crews. “If not for these attentive bystanders, the victim would not have survived much longer,” the department wrote in a Facebook post that evening. The statement urged others to call 911 immediately if they see anything unusual along the river corridor.
A Second River Incident
The crevice rescue was not the only emergency along the Willamette that day. According to local newspaper The Register-Guard, a body was recovered from the main river channel in what were described as freezing conditions. That individual was pronounced dead at the scene. The Lane County Medical Examiner continues to investigate the circumstances of that death, and authorities have not said whether the two events are connected.
Safety Concerns
The twin incidents have renewed focus on river-area safety during winter months when fewer people frequent the trails. The diversion channel, built decades ago to control seasonal flooding, features steep concrete walls and jagged quarry stone that create unpredictable gaps and drop-offs. City officials urge visitors to stay on designated paths and keep pets leashed.
Emergency Response Resources
Eugene Springfield Fire maintains a technical rescue team trained for high-angle, confined-space, and swift-water operations. Sunday’s call required multiple specialties:
- Rope rescue technicians
- Paramedic-level EMS
- Incident command staff
- Logistics and equipment officers
The department reminded residents that specialized responses of this size are rare but critical when every minute counts.
Investigation Status
As of Monday morning, the rescued man remained hospitalized with no further updates on his condition. Police have not released how long he may have been in the crevice before being discovered, nor have they speculated on how he came to be there. News Of Los Angeles has reached out to the fire department for additional information.
Key Takeaways
- Quick action by passers-by set the rescue in motion
- Hypothermia complicated an already technical extraction
- A parallel fatality the same day has officials reviewing river-area safety
- Responders credit teamwork-and luck-for pulling the man out alive
