PORT ANGELES – The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist the Elwha Police Department and Clallam 2 Fire/Rescue with a technical rescue on Elwha Tribal Land Monday.

Elwha Police had responded to assist medics with a man in distress from drug use. But, after the man was administered Narcan, he got up and ran away into the woods.

He was located by an Elwha police officer, but refused to come to the officer. Instead, the man walked toward a cliff and fell off to the beach below.

Deputies responded with additional Search and Rescue equipment to help with the rescue, but soon found that the man couldn’t be transported from the cliffside without an air rescue.

At about 9:18 pm he was placed safely into a litter rescue basket and lifted off the beach by a Coast Guard helicopter. The injured man was then flown to Harborview Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.

(Photo courtesy Jay Cline)