Bystanders spotted a man 10–15 feet down a crevice in Eugene, and firefighters rescued him after finding him pinned and unresponsive with a body temperature of 76 degrees

By Sami Edge
oregonlive.com

EUGENE, Ore. — Firefighters in Eugene on Sunday rescued a man stuck inside a crevice near the Willamette River.

Bystanders walking along a river diversion near the University of Oregon saw a person stuck 10 or 15 feet down a crevice and called 911 around noon, Eugene Springfield Fire said in a statement.

| MORE: NFPA 1983: Where did it come from and what does it mean?

Firefighters found the person pinned between a concrete wall and a quarry stone. The man, in his mid-30’s, was unresponsive and had a body temperature of just 76 degrees, the agency said.

“If not for those attentive bystanders, the victim would not have survived much longer,” the agency said in a statement.

Firefighters transported the man to a Springfield hospital in critical condition, they said.

Search and Rescue of Mineral County operates under the sheriff’s office to provide rapid, coordinated rescues for residents and outdoor recreation visitors

January 18, 2026 12:00 PM

After a yearlong delay and a compromise with Mayor Justin Bibb, City Council is set to vote on creating a “care response” that dispatches clinicians with EMS to certain mental health emergencies

January 19, 2026 08:00 AM

Four Baltimore firefighters suffered minor injuries after their ladder truck slid into a parked truck while responding to a fire

January 20, 2026 08:59 AM

The Sutphen SPH100 features a longer ladder and enhanced safety features

January 19, 2026 12:00 PM

©2026 Advance Local Media LLC.
Visit oregonlive.com.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Program provides departments with the funding to address the risks of diesel exhaust and airborne contaminants

January 08, 2026 06:25 PM