California man, 69, falls 300 feet to his death while hiking with his wife in Oregon after the pair become separated

A 69-year-old California man has died after he fell to his death while on a coastal trail in Oregon with his wife.  

Richard Ehrhart and his wife Susan Kimura were hiking the Natural Bridges coastal trail in Oregon's Curry County on April 21 when the pair somehow separated.

According to  Curry County Sheriff's Office, Kimura had returned back to the couple's car in the parking area without Ehrhart in sight. 

But at around 2.35pm, another hiker on the trail called 911 and said he had seen a body that appeared to be deceased on the rocks below the trail. 

Richard Ehrhart, 69, was found dead 300 feet below the Natural Bridges coastal trail in Oregon's Curry County 

According to Curry County Sheriff's Office, Kimura had returned back to the couple's car in the parking area without Ehrhart in sight

Around 2.35pm, another hiker on the trail called 911 and said he had seen a body that appeared to be deceased on the rocks below the trail

Deputies from the Sheriff's Office and an Oregon State Trooper responded to the scene. After arriving and seeing where Ehrhart's body was stuck, the Curry County Sheriff’s SAR team were called for help

Deputies from the Sheriff's Office and an Oregon State Trooper responded to the scene. After arriving and seeing where Ehrhart's body was stuck, the Curry County Sheriff’s SAR team was called for help. 

According to officials, SAR members Andy Stubbs and Tim Hawkins descended about 300 feet down the trail cliff to pick up the elderly man's body. 

Due to the location and steep terrain, members of the Cape Ferello and the Brookings Fire Department as well as a USFS Law Enforcement Officer were also called to help lift the body back to the parking area. 

A chaplain was called to the scene to help inform Kimura of her husband's death, the sheriff's office said in a Facebook post. 

The San Jose man's body was then taken to Redwood Memorial Chapel.

A chaplain was called to the scene to help inform Kimura of her husband's death

Daughter Caitlin Wheeler described her father as 'a devoted husband to my mom, loving father of his three daughters, Mariko, Terumi and me, amazing Papa to Kiana and Evie, and good friend to many'

 The San Jose man's body was taken to Redwood Memorial Chapel

According to officials, SAR members Andy Stubbs and Tim Hawkins descended about 300 feet down the trail cliff to pick up the elderly man's body

Due to the location and steep terrain, members of the Cape Ferello and the Brookings Fire Department as well as a USFS Law Enforcement Officer were also called to help lift the body back to the parking area

After Ehrhart's body was returned to his family, his daughter Caitlin Wheeler posted an Instagram tribute to him. 

The grief-ridden daughter wrote: 'In loving memory of my dad @rickehrhart...My family and I are in shock and devastated after learning of my dad's passing from a tragic hiking accident doing what he loved (exploring), this Sunday. 

'He was a devoted husband to my mom, loving father of his three daughters, Mariko, Terumi and me, amazing Papa to Kiana and Evie and good friend to many. He was the 1 MAN of the house full of women, our leader, and glue to our family.

'He was a one of a kind guy and not afraid to be himself and stand out in a crowd.'

The Sheriff's Office has confirmed that an investigation into his official cause of death is underway.