82-Year-Old Man Dies in Fall in Briceland, Recovery Assisted by Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue Team
An 82-year-old man was found deceased Thursday evening in Briceland after an apparent fall from a ladder, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies were dispatched around 6:47 p.m. on August 21 to the 3800 block of China Creek Road. At the scene, they met with the Briceland Volunteer Fire Department Battalion Chief, who reported the man appeared to have been working on his house when he fell, landing approximately 50 feet below in a creek bed.
A witness told deputies he had been working on the victim’s water lines and, after not hearing from him for about three days, went to check on him. Unable to make contact, the witness alerted Briceland Volunteer Fire. Responders discovered a ladder leaning against the residence and located the man down the embankment.
Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue Team’s Aurora Studebaker descending into a creek bed to assist with a body recovery. [Photo from SHTRT]
The victim was released to the Humboldt County Coroner’s Office. His name has not yet been released.
The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.
Note: The Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue Team is comprised of volunteers. If you’d like to donate to the SHTRT and the work they do, click here.
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At 78 I have become radically more cautious about ladders and power tools. I have two firm rules: 1. Dont fall. And 2. Don’t get hurt.
It is harder to recover and I don’t want to hear,”I told you so”.
Also, I like being alive.
RIP old guy.
Condolences.
I hear you!
3.careful where you put your feet (don’t slip)
I’ve always had a sometimes paralyzing fear when climbing ladders. I think mine has to do with loss of nearby visual reference indicating which way is down/up. Same fear climbing a sailboat mast while berthed — interestingly I have no problem climbing a waving mast at sea. Also fear at the top of rock outcropping. No problem walking a narrow path above a chasm.
Vertigo can be a real problem to avoid a fall. Sometimes if vestibular fluid is congested a simple turn of the head causes vertigo similar to spinning dizzyness when drunk. More of a problem as we age.
Treatment of Vestibular Disorders (Inner Ear Balance Problems): How Does Your Physical Therapist Treat Dizziness Related to Inner Ear Balance Problems? https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8920002/
Carrying a ’64 Volvo head at 76, I turned my head and nearly fell from a dizzying sensation. Happens quick.
In my experience and conversations, good old “ear rocks,” otoliths, or BPPV is the culprit in most older folks’ balance issues.
Not to be too conspiracy-minded, but do you suppose this #1 cause of dizziness (i didn’t google that, but in my circles, it’s def. #1) does not get listed because it does not require nor respond to sellable products… that is, you just learn the Epley maneuver, and/or learn to be patient and live with it, and that’s it.
I would go so far as to dispute that “Dizziness… is never normal.” What percentage of people need to suffer it for it to be considered a normal part of aging?
It’s not good, though, i will grant that– for all the reasons cited. It’s not only dangerous, it’s uncomfortable and exhausting to be worried by which way’s up for hours, days, or weeks at a time.
Thank you!!! For “otoliths, or BPPV” and “Epley maneuver”.
In TCM, the ears are the “gateway” to the kidneys — often a person hard of hearing or experiencing hearing loss will have an associated kidney problem. Support kidney health for keen hearing and good balance!
I’m working on the 10 exercises diagrams…the first four are almost a specific for stiff neck and are definitely an “Epley maneuver”. Never straining or moving beyond normal range of motion!:
Eyes front, fixed in head,, gently nod up & down “yes” (atlas)Same, gently nod side-to-side”no” (axis)Same, look to the left, circle head clockwise.Same, Look to the right, circle head counterclockwise (atlas/axis)
Good comment, thanks! And no it’s not “conspiracy” it is normal that things that cannot be monetized or profited on do not get attention ie. advertised. It is our modern society for better and worse…. That’s why it’s more important than ever that we look out for each other.
A friend taught me, before getting up on a ladder by yourself, call a friend to let them know and you’ll call them back when you get back down. That way if they don’t get that second call they know something is wrong.
Condolences to friends and family of the deceased
So sorry for this sad event. Must have been very scary. Condolences to all his loving family and friends.
I can hold a ladder, and that’s where my relationship with a ladder ends. I’m 83, and looking forward to next week’s dance. Thanks to Aurora Studebaker and co-rescuers for their technical rescue. I’m very sorry to learn of the gentleman’s untimely passing.
I remember my Dad rushing out of the house one day. My Grandpa’s neighbor had called to tell him his 90 year old father was up on the roof! We lived a few miles away. My Dad raced over and yes- my old Italian (stubborn) Grandpa was like ” I’m just cleaning out the gutters. What’s the problem?” Ha ha! My Dad was pissed but….what are ya gonna do?!
I was very sorry to read that the 82-year-old gentleman had fallen off his ladder and landed 50 feet below in the creek bed. A big thank you to the man that had been working on the deceased persons water lines and had not heard from him for about 3 days, so he went to check on him and was unable to locate the person, so he contacted the Briceland Volunteer Fire Department. They responded in a timely manner and found him in the creek bed. My most sincere condolences to the deceased persons family and friends. May he RIP.
I am very sorry to see a red thumbs down for my comment. That was a very tragic accident. I would like to thank Auroa Studebaker for her work in helping bring the deceased up the hill. She is a wonderful person as is her crew. She was married for many years to my high school buddy Ted Studebaker. May he RIP.
Thank you for the comment may he rest in peace I’m the guy who working on his water line nickname is shaggy
You are truly welcome Shaggy. Not many folks these days seem to care about others or their neighbors. You obviously due and I am proud of you for checking.
At 82 he could have died from the fall or had a heart attack and died. Either way best wishes to his friends and family. Hopefully I am able to climb ladders when I reach that age.
Yes, you might be able to climb it but could you get back down, slowly? You sound like an intelligent guy, which reminds me that it’s usually my most intelligent seventy-something friends who are the ones who create near death experiences, probably because of overconfidence. (We’re all wondering who is our neighbor who is no longer.)
Well…ya don’t know your limit until you step over it. So many of us around here have lived lives of fierce independence. And now we are getting older. I don’t have an answer for anybody, myself included. Looking for that group community w people I can put up with lol! My sympathies go out to this independent man and his loved ones.
👍
RIP Woods.
The Man Who Walks Through the?
yes
Robert ‘Woods’ Sutherland aka: “Man who walks in the woods.”
Damn! Another pillar of the ‘alternative community’ has fallen. So sad. What we had here, was exceptional. And like the Buddhists teach, there is an impermanence to all things.
the man who walked in the woods litigated the phrase “cumulative impact” into California law during the Headwaters fight, to prevent (or slow) clearcutting by a thousand cuts. He was an environmentalist for the ages. RIP
To my recollection from being active in the community but not environmental issues, per se, Woods worked for his values with Headwaters and many forest struggles. I believe he was more recently known for his opposition to cannabis cultivation. While I can appreciate his interest there to protect the environment, I didn’t agree in total with his POV. Still, that he was a leader and fighter was always admirable.