Man survives 4 days in ravine after stroke causes car crash

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — An Oregon man suffered a stroke before his vehicle veered off a logging road and plunged down an 80-foot embankment, according to his father.

Forrest Kurt Liska, 52, of Medford was found injured and dehydrated last week after spending four days at the bottom of a remote ravine in southwest Oregon.

His father, Wayne Liska, told the Mail Tribune newspaper that his son was able to take a few steps Sunday at a Medford hospital, where he is in intensive care.

"They got him up and he walked to the door. But that was as far as he got," his father said.

Liska's family reported him missing after he hadn't been seen for a couple days. They told police he enjoys hiking alone in the Applegate area.

Sheriff's deputies found no sign of Liska, but sent information about him to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service, asking for their employees to be on the lookout for his Ford Bronco.

Forrest Kurt Liska, who goes by Kurt, sat injured for nearly four days before a U.S. Forest Service employee, who was patrolling Wednesday, noticed tire tracks that led over the side of a logging road about 10 miles from Mount Ashland. The Forest Service official looked down the ravine and saw Liska sitting on a pile of rocks. The injured man was calling for help.

Rescue workers labored to pull the 6-foot 5-inch man to safety.

"It was quite an effort to get him up that hill," Wayne Liska said.

Wayne Liska said the area his son crashed was clear except for the tree that stopped his truck's tumbling. Fortunately, his son was ejected before impact.

"The tree just crushed the car," Liska said. "If he'd been in it when it hit, it would have killed him. He was thrown 150 feet beyond the car. That's why he's so skinned up."

Kurt Liska is listed in serious condition with a left arm broken in three places above the elbow, a bruised spleen, bruised lungs and a couple of broken ribs. His right arm and side also have suffered paralysis from the stroke.

"He will make a full recovery," his father said. "But, boy, it's going to take some time. He's sore all over."

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Information from: Mail Tribune, http://www.mailtribune.com/

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press