Rafter vanishes in Oregon wilderness, survives five-day ordeal before helicopter rescue

A 26-year-old rafter who vanished during a trip on Oregon’s Illinois River was rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter after surviving alone in rugged wilderness for five days.

Gabriel Vaughn was last seen around 4:15 p.m. Monday near Greenwall Rapids while rafting with a group, according to the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office.

Vaughn was wearing a blue dry suit, helmet and life jacket when he left the group to hike into the woods, telling others he planned to hike out toward the Chetco drainage, the sheriff’s office said.