Tough decision to scale back Xu search
Eugene - We're learning more about the largest search and rescue mission in Lane County history. Tuesday sheriff's deputies talked in detail about the search for Daming Xu.
We first told you that the efforts are being scaled back in the search for the missing University of Oregon professor. Now sheriff's officials told us in depth why they made their decision.
"I believe we were successful at conducting a search but we were not successful at locating Daming Xu," says John Miller with LCSO's search and rescue.
Lane County sheriff's officials say they did everything they could to find Daming Xu in 50 to 100 square miles of the Three Sisters Wilderness. Including using two Oregon National Guard helicopters and 19 agencies with dozens of volunteers.
"It was in excess of 5,000 man hours relating to this search," says Miller.
"At times they were going 24 hours," adds Lt. Randy Smith.
Round the clock searching for a man who went hiking in that area 10 days ago, with no backpack or jacket. Rescuers clung to clues like his parked car, a sighting on Oalilie mountain and footprints. But none of them added up.
"It's very rare we can do a search of this magnitude and not find clues that help us find our subject," says Miller.
And as the weather turned survivability and rescuers safety became a factor. "Monday we had wind storm came through and that also hurt some of our search abilities yesterday," says Lt. Smith.
Which is why they say it was time to make the tough decision with Xu's family, who say they still hope to find him, but understand the need to scale back.
Sheriff Russ Burger read a statement prepared by the family: "we hope that this event might save future lives by encouraging others to take basic safety precautions when enjoying Oregon's beautiful yet unforgiving wilderness."
As for these men who spent so much time looking for Xu they're still holding on to hope too. "I still hope that somehow someway he gets found," says Sheriff Burger.
Miller say's he'll brief other search and rescue teams across the state at a conference next month so others can critique and learn from their efforts.
We first told you that the efforts are being scaled back in the search for the missing University of Oregon professor. Now sheriff's officials told us in depth why they made their decision.
"I believe we were successful at conducting a search but we were not successful at locating Daming Xu," says John Miller with LCSO's search and rescue.
Lane County sheriff's officials say they did everything they could to find Daming Xu in 50 to 100 square miles of the Three Sisters Wilderness. Including using two Oregon National Guard helicopters and 19 agencies with dozens of volunteers.
"It was in excess of 5,000 man hours relating to this search," says Miller.
"At times they were going 24 hours," adds Lt. Randy Smith.
Round the clock searching for a man who went hiking in that area 10 days ago, with no backpack or jacket. Rescuers clung to clues like his parked car, a sighting on Oalilie mountain and footprints. But none of them added up.
"It's very rare we can do a search of this magnitude and not find clues that help us find our subject," says Miller.
And as the weather turned survivability and rescuers safety became a factor. "Monday we had wind storm came through and that also hurt some of our search abilities yesterday," says Lt. Smith.
Which is why they say it was time to make the tough decision with Xu's family, who say they still hope to find him, but understand the need to scale back.
Sheriff Russ Burger read a statement prepared by the family: "we hope that this event might save future lives by encouraging others to take basic safety precautions when enjoying Oregon's beautiful yet unforgiving wilderness."
As for these men who spent so much time looking for Xu they're still holding on to hope too. "I still hope that somehow someway he gets found," says Sheriff Burger.
Miller say's he'll brief other search and rescue teams across the state at a conference next month so others can critique and learn from their efforts.
