Injured Hiker Rescued From God's Thumb In Lincoln City

On Sunday, May 24, shortly before 2:00 p.m., North Lincoln Fire & Rescue responded to a report of an injured female near Roads End Point, just south of God’s Thumb.

Upon arrival, responders located the 25-year old female patient approximately halfway down the cliff face in difficult terrain.

Due to the location and complexity of the rescue, additional resources were requested, including a United States Coast Guard helicopter and the Lincoln County Technical Rescue Team. At approximately 4:10 p.m.watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River were contacted by Lincoln County dispatch, who requested assistance rescuing the woman from the cliff after she sustained multiple injuries during a fall.   

Fire crews were able to safely access the patient, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Personnel stabilized the patient and prepared her for aerial extraction. A Coast Guard helicopter crew from Newport arrived on scene and successfully hoisted the patient and transported her to Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital for medical treatment. 

North Lincoln Fire & Rescue would also like to remind hikers and visitors to stay on designated trails while exploring coastal areas. Venturing off established trails can quickly lead to dangerous situations requiring complex rescue operations that place rescuers at risk and create unnecessary costs to taxpayers. Coastal cliffs and terrain in the Roads End and God’s Thumb areas can be unstable and hazardous, especially near steep drop-offs.

"This rescue was a powerful reminder of how quickly a day outdoors can turn dangerous," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Ben Sobels, Coast Guard Aviation Survival Technician. "We're extremely grateful we were able to safely reunite her with her loved ones.” 

North Lincoln Fire & Rescue would also like to remind hikers and visitors to stay on designated trails while exploring coastal areas. Venturing off established trails can quickly lead to dangerous situations requiring complex rescue operations that place rescuers at risk and create unnecessary costs to taxpayers.

Coastal cliffs and terrain in the Roads End and God’s Thumb areas can be unstable and hazardous, especially near steep drop-offs. The area offers a dramatic cliffside rock and a coastal hike in Lincoln City, and is also known for its steep ocean views and thumb shaped peak overlooking the Pacific. 

North Lincoln Fire & Rescue thanked the United States Coast Guard, Lincoln County Technical Rescue Team, and Lincoln City Police Department for their assistance and coordinated response during this incident.