Crews rescue man from Burnet County creek bed after fall from cliff
FROM STAFF REPORTS
BURNET COUNTY — A man is recovering from a broken leg and dehydration after he tumbled to the bottom of a cliff in southeast Burnet County while searching in the dark for a water source on a remote county road, according to the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office.
At about 12:30 p.m. Jan. 7, Burnet County Deputy Derrick Klotz responded to the 1000 block of CR 328 (Cow Creek Road), just off RR 1174, on a report of suspected illegal dumping.
“He found a pickup on the side of the road (but) couldn’t find anybody. He called out, and someone called for help,” Burnet County Chief Deputy Joey Canady said. “The deputy looked over the side of a cliff and saw a man laying in the creek bed.”
The unidentified middle-aged man could not move due to a possible broken leg, the report stated.
“He was there overnight. His vehicle had broke down, overheated, and he was looking for water,” Canady said. “He heard water running from the creek. He was not familiar with the area and didn’t realize there was a 75-foot drop.”
Emergency crews and law enforcement gained access to the victim in another area of the creek and coordinated with Travis County STAR Flight to place the man in a helicopter rescue stretcher, Canady said.
“If not for the commendable efforts of Burnet County Deputy Derrick Klotz and all of the agencies involved, the condition of the victim could have been grave,” a sheriff’s statement read.
BCSO and STAR Flight were assisted by Burnet County Precinct 4 Constable Chris Jett, the Bertram Fire Department, the Marble Falls Area Volunteer Fire Department and the Marble Falls Area EMS.
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