A 28-year-old man has been rescued from a precarious situation at a marina in Oregon after accidentally becoming trapped beneath a boulder while fishing alone. Joe Little, who was fishing at Hammond Marina on Saturday, 27th September, found himself in a life-threatening predicament when the rock he was sitting on shifted unexpectedly.
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According to his grandmother, Kelly Simonson, Little sensed a change as the boulder began to move. He tried to stabilise it by putting his feet down but ultimately lost his balance. “The boulder was huge, and he slipped down,” Simonson recounted. The rock rolled over him, trapping him underneath.
In a remarkable act of resourcefulness and with the assistance of his Apple device, Little managed to summon help. Using Siri and his headphones, he was able to contact emergency services. The Warrenton Fire Department quickly responded to the alert and called for backup from the U.S. Coast Guard’s Sector Columbia River command centre.
Given the unstable terrain surrounding the area, an on-foot rescue was rendered impossible. As a result, a helicopter crew was dispatched to the marina in Astoria. They arrived at the scene shortly after the alarm was raised and successfully hoisted Little to safety.
His mother, Mindy Little, was in Seattle when she received the distressing news. Expressing her profound relief at her son’s survival, she described the moment as “a miracle.” “It was panic. We couldn’t get home fast enough,” she told a local news outlet, KOIN.
Mindy recounted seeing her son after the incident, describing his injuries as horrifying. “It looked like his face had been torn off, and it was completely smashed in,” she said, noting how overwhelming the sight was for a mother.
Little was subsequently taken to Oregon Health and Science University Hospital in Portland, where medical personnel assessed his injuries. Reports indicate he is being treated for a broken jaw and other facial wounds.
The incident highlights both the dangers present in outdoor activities and the importance of quick-thinking in emergencies. Little’s ability to use technology efficiently played a crucial role in his rescue, demonstrating how modern devices can provide vital connections in critical situations.
As Little continues his recovery, his family remains grateful for the swift response from emergency services. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of nature and the need for safety precautions when engaging in activities like fishing in remote areas.