92-year-old survives night in freezing cold after fall down embankment, Oregon cops say

Troopers looking for an overdue 92-year-old driver found him at the bottom of an embankment after he spent the night in freezing cold, Oregon State Police reported.

Larry Hendrickson was reported overdue at 3 p.m. Nov. 7, state police said in a news release.

Troopers found his vehicle stopped on a road near Baker City the next morning, police said. They found Hendrickson, who had fallen down an embankment, nearby.

Found covered in vegetation, Hendrickson was conscious and breathing despite spending the night in freezing cold temperatures, police said.

Emergency crews treated him and took him to a hospital, police said.

“Cold weather exposure can be life-threatening and another night in these conditions may have been fatal,” said Capt. Kyle Kennedy in the release.

Baker City is about 300 miles southeast of Portland.

What to do if you get stranded in cold weather

When the body is exposed to prolonged cold temperatures, it starts to lose heat faster than it can produce it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Prolonged exposure to cold will eventually use up your body’s stored energy,” the CDC said. “The result is hypothermia, or abnormally low body temperature.”

Low body temperatures can impact the brain and cause people to be unable to move or think clearly. However, the National Weather Service said there are ways to help you stay safe.

If you’re outside in cold weather, find shelter and stay dry. Cover every part of your body that’s exposed to the cold air.

If there’s nowhere to go nearby, build a windbreak or snow cave for protection. You should also continue to move your body to keep blood circulating, but don’t overexert yourself, officials said.

If you get trapped in a vehicle during a storm, officials said you should stay inside it and stay visible to rescuers.

“Run the motor about 10 minutes each hour for heat,” the National Weather Service said. “While running the motor, open the window a little for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Clear snow from the exhaust pipe to avoid gas poisoning.”

This story was originally published November 14, 2023 at 10:56 AM with the headline "92-year-old survives night in freezing cold after fall down embankment, Oregon cops say."