In a heartwarming tale of loyalty and survival, an Oregon man owes his life to his devoted dog, who embarked on an arduous four-mile journey to find help after the man fell off an embankment. Brandon Garrett was driving with his four dogs when his vehicle careened into a ravine, leaving him stranded and injured.
While Garrett’s remarkable dog set off to seek assistance, Garrett managed to crawl out of the wreckage but had to endure the night alone in the rugged terrain. When Garrett failed to return to camp, his concerned family promptly notified the authorities.
According to a Facebook post from the Baker County Sheriff’s Department, the dramatic rescue unfolded on June 3, 2024, around 9:28 a.m. The Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a report about a vehicle over an embankment on U.S. Forest Service Road 39. The report came from Garrett’s brother, who explained that Brandon had not arrived at camp the previous day. The family had located the vehicle but couldn’t reach it due to the challenging landscape.
Upon arriving at the scene, first responders found the overturned vehicle along with one of Garrett’s dogs. Garrett, hearing the commotion, shouted for help, directing the rescuers to his location. The rough terrain necessitated the use of a chainsaw to clear a path to Garrett.
The Baker County Sheriff’s Office, Baker County Search and Rescue, Pine Valley Rural Fire District, and Halfway Ambulance all sprang into action. Sheriff Ash located the vehicle and heard Garrett’s calls for help. He provided first aid while Pine Valley Rural Fire volunteers and U.S. Forest Service employees used chainsaws to carve a path through the dense brush. The Baker County Search and Rescue Ropes Team then deployed their equipment to reach Garrett, who was about a hundred yards from the vehicle, near a creek. Once they reached him, they secured Garrett in a rescue basket and used a highline rope system to pull him across the ravine, transferring him to the waiting SAR members and medical personnel.
The investigation revealed that the accident occurred due to Garrett’s failure to navigate a curve on U.S. Forest Service Road 39. After the crash, Garrett’s loyal dog trekked nearly four miles back to their camp, alerting the rest of the camping party to the emergency. All three other dogs were found alive at the crash scene, further underscoring the resilience and loyalty of man’s best friend.
The sheriff’s department stated, “Garrett was transported by Halfway Ambulance to the Life Flight helicopter, where he was airlifted to a regional hospital. During the investigation, it was determined that Garrett was traveling north on U.S. Forest Service Road 39 on June 2nd with his four dogs, when he failed to negotiate a curve causing the vehicle to plummet off the embankment. One of his dogs traveled the nearly four miles to their camp, which alerted the rest of the party that something was wrong. Garrett was able to crawl approximately one hundred yards from the vehicle, where he spent the night. The rest of the party continued to search for him, and family members located his vehicle on the morning of June 3rd. The three remaining dogs were located alive at the crash scene.”
Brandon Garrett is fortunate to be alive, thanks to the heroic actions of his dog. This touching story highlights the unwavering loyalty and courage of our canine companions, proving once again why they are rightfully called ‘man’s best friend.’
