LAPUSH — A stranded hiker in the vicinity of First Beach was rescued off a cliff by a Coast Guard helicopter.
Coast Guard spokesman Bill Gittins said a woman reported her brother was stranded on the cliff.
Gittins said there was only a two-hour window of daylight left, so Quillayute River Coast Guard Station personnel called the Port Angeles station for a helicopter.
The man was identified by Olympic National Park spokeswoman Barb Maynes as Thomas Jeannot.
Sources said Jeannot is a 49-year-old Gonzaga University professor who leads the university’s women’s study program and lives in Spokane.
The rescue happened about 7:20 p.m. Sunday south of First Beach. Jeannot was not injured
Gittins said a rescue swimmer was deployed from the helicopter, then the hiker and the swimmer were hoisted to safety.
Maynes said the cliff area where Jeannot was hiking is extremely treacherous.