Hypothermal man found at Lava Lands Visitor Center may have walked 10 miles naked

Published 7:49 am Sunday, January 13, 2019

A hypothermal man rescued from Lava Lands Visitor Center on Thursday night may have walked all the way to Benham Falls and back without clothing, a distance of more than 10 miles. Temperatures at the time dipped to the low 20s, according to a Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office press release.

The 27-year-old John Day man, Adam Gilliam, was disoriented and naked when he approached another motorist and asked for help jump-starting his vehicle. Gilliam was in his vehicle at the visitor center entrance on U.S. Highway 97 south of Bend when officers arrived. He appeared to be hypothermal, according to the sheriff’s office, and he was suffering from extensive injuries consistent with walking naked through brush and trees.

Gilliam was taken to St. Charles Bend, where he told deputies that he had walked from the visitor center to Benham Falls and back without clothing.

Police believe drugs may have played a role in his behavior.

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