A 24-year old Bend man survived a fall from a rock ledge near the Deschutes River in Redmond Saturday afternoon when he lost his balance and tumbled 100-feet below, landing on the ground.

Joshua David Zukoski was hiking in the area with friends, said Sgt. Chad Davis with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.  According to witnesses, Zukoski had been drinking alcohol before he climbed up the rock cliff on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) property, west of SW Jaguar Avenue.

Deschutes County Sheriff’s deputies and Search & Rescue team members, in addition to Redmond Fire Department personnel responded to the area about 6:30 p.m., Davis reported.

Emergency personnel stabilized the injured man and removed him from the canyon, transporting him to an awaiting AirLife helicopter.  Zukoski was flown to St. Charles Medical Center in Bend, with what deputies first reported as serious injuries, although as of Monday he was in reportedly fair condition.

“Based upon interviews of Zukoski’s friends, alcohol appears to be a factor in the fall”, the sergeant said.