Injured Bend hiker rescued from Broken Top
A Bend man was recovering at home Monday from injuries suffered in a fall while hiking on the northeast side of Broken Top Sunday morning, prompting an hours-long rescue effort.
According to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Douglas Amend, 54, of Bend, was hiking with two friends earlier but chose to continue by himself, attempting to get to a higher elevation.
Amend fell and slid “a significant distance,” injuring himself, deputies said. He called 911 dispatchers to report his situation around 11 a.m.
DCSO Search and Rescue teams couldn’t reach the injured hiker with ATVs because of the wilderness area he was in.
The hiker told rescuers he had knowledge of the area and would start to begin walking on his own.
SAR deputies got a call from Amend on Sunday afternoon, letting them know he was lost and his cellphone battery life was very low.
He sent a text message to officers saying he should be back on the Broken Top trailhead within two hours, but he was not located.
A total of 14 volunteers and deputies were called out to look for Amend in the area they thought he might be traveling. An AirLink helicopter crew also was called out to help with the search.
Around 7:20 p.m., 911 dispatchers received a call from Amend, saying he was at the Park Meadow Trailhead and needed a ride.
A SAR deputy went to that spot and took the injured hiker home.
Family members said Monday Amend was taken to St. Charles Bend for treatment of injuries, including two broken vertebrae in his back, and was home and resting Monday .
The sheriff’s office said it wanted to remind those who spend time outdoors to always be prepared, have a partner and stay together.
