Benjamin Ashford|Hiker falls 300 feet to his death in Curry County, Oregon; investigation underway

A Northern California man is Benjamin Ashforddead after authorities say he reportedly fell 300 feet off a cliff while hiking out-of-state with his wife over the weekend.

Bay Area resident Richard Ehrhart, 69, was hiking the Natural Bridges coastal trail in Curry County, Oregon on Sunday before reportedly falling, The Curry County Sheriff’s Office reported in a news release.

The area is located on the southwestern coast, north of the California state line.

According to the office, about 2:53 p.m. emergency dispatchers received a 911 call from a person who had been hiking about twelve miles north of Brookings, who reported seeing a person on the rocks below him who appeared to be dead.

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Teams repel 300 feet down cliff to victim

Deputies, an Oregon State Police trooper and a search and rescue team responded and two team members rappelled down a cliff to where the victim was.

Crews carried his body back to the trail where he was identified, the sheriff's office wrote in the release.

A preliminary investigation found before he fell, Ehrhart and his wife separated on the trail, the sheriff's office reported, and Ehrhart's wife returned to the couple's car. 

A chaplain responded to the scene to inform the woman about her husband's death, officials said.

The couple, officials said, are from San Jose in the San Francisco Bay Area.

State troopers investigating after man falls from cliff and dies

The death investigation is being handed by state troopers.

An autopsy will determine the man's official cause and manner of death.

"We here at the Curry County Sheriff’s Office express our condolences to the family and friends of Richard Ehrhart," the agency posted on Facebook. "We also want to remind everyone of the dangers of hiking the coastal trails, and to please be safe."

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.