[UPDATE: Now With Video] Body Recovery Highlights Importance of Highly Skilled SoHum Tech Rescue Team

The body recovery north of Redway yesterday, March 16, highlighted the importance and skill of the Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue members as they descended a vertical cliff face to recover the body of a deceased individual near the edge of the swollen south fork of the Eel River.

A pull out on the side of Redwood Drive quickly filled with volunteer fire department engines, personal vehicles, and Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office vehicles as emergency dispatch requested first responders to the area where an individual was reportedly deceased.

A statement from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office states, “On March 7, 2023, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received information that an unknown man had reportedly fallen off a steep cliff several days prior in the Ravencliff area off Redwood Drive, north of Redway.

Deputies responded and conducted a ground search of the area, which included treacherous terrain and thick vegetation, with negative results. Deputies continuously followed up on this investigation, utilizing an HCSO infrared drone and canvassing the area for potential witnesses.”

On March 16, during a break in the recent storms, personnel from HCSO were able to locate the deceased individual. They then requested aid from Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue and Redway Volunteer Fire Department in the recovery of the body.

First on scene, Redway Volunteer Fire Department Chief, Pete Genolio, and crew, grabbed a backboard and headed off over the steep embankment that is home some of the area’s homeless population.

Typically, the county’s coroner personnel are tasked with handling deceased individuals. The presence of so many volunteer personnel held a key to what may lie below the edge of Redwood Drive.

Upon arrival, Aurora Studebaker, Captain of the Southern Humboldt County Technical Rescue team, took command of the scene. Volunteers from SHCTR, Redway VFD, and Garberville Fire Protection District, gathered around the hood of Studebaker’s SUV as she devised a plan.

Two hours after the initial call went out, two members from SHCTR emerged from the dense brush on the hillside, visible from the west side of the river, their bright orange and red gear a stark contrast to the bright green moss and ferns covering the vertical face of the cliff. The SHCTR members, Chief Kai Ostrow and Rheanna Campbell, descended the cliff with a rescue basket to hoist the body from the bottom of the cliff to awaiting coroner personnel.

In tandem, Ostrow and Campbell, repelled down the cliff with a rescue basket. Vegetation gave way under their feet at times as they descended. Studebaker’s voice could be heard above, shouting commands to team members as they lowered the two volunteers over the edge.

The dense river brush at the bottom of the cliff obscured Ostrow and Campbell recovering the decedent, but their voices could be heard communicating with their team at the top, before reemerging from the thicket with the decedent safely secured in the rescue basket.

Approximately four hours after the initial call, SHCTR members placed the decedent into the custody of the coroner.

HCSO’s Public Information Officer, Samantha Karges, states that the identity of the deceased male is known, however, his identity will be withheld until notification of next of kin.

At this time, there has not been a determination of foul play. The HCSO’s Major Crimes Division is investigating.

Karges expressed the HCSO’s appreciation for the assistance from Southern Humboldt County Technical Rescue and Redway Volunteer Fire Department.

If anyone has any information about this death, they are asked to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

The Southern Humboldt County Technical Rescue team is a volunteer organization with members donating their time to assist residents and agencies in times of need. If you’d like to financially contribute to the SHCTR, mail donations to P.O. Box 458, Redway, Ca. 95560 or make a deposit to the Southern Humboldt Fire Chief’s Association account at Vocality Credit Union, earmarked for SHCTR. 

UPDATE: Video from Kim Cabrera:

Note: Special thanks to the Redway Community Services District and Kim Cabrera.