A 38-year-old Redmond man died Sunday after he fell about six feet and became stuck in rocks on the edge of Dry Canyon, just feet from multiple homes on a brutally cold night.

Rescue crews responded Sunday morning to an alley off West Antler Ave. in Redmond, according to Lt. Eric Beckwith, a spokesperson for the Redmond Police Department. Multiple homes sit on each side of the tight alley, which is used to access power lines and dead ends at a steep cliff above the popular Dry Canyon park.

According to Redmond Fire and Rescue, the driver is believed to have driven down the alley sometime late Saturday or early Sunday. He then exited the vehicle and fell among the rocks lining the top of the canyon, where he became stuck. He is believed to have been exposed to the bitter cold for hours.

Subzero temperatures and heavy snowfall pummeled much of Central Oregon over the weekend, which led local and state officials to caution the public. Redmond had a high temperature of 12 degrees Sunday, and a low of minus 1, according to the National Weather Service.

Dustin Miller, the deputy fire chief for Redmond Fire & Rescue, said a passerby called 911 at around 8:15 a.m. Sunday after seeing the vehicle on the edge of the canyon.

Miller said rescuers believe the man lodged his mid-size SUV in between the boulders, then at some point during the night got out of his vehicle and fell down into the rocks,

“We are not really sure how long he was there. With the temperatures that evening, it would be pretty easy to understand how cold it was, with the condition that we found him in,” Miller said. “I don’t know how long he was out of the vehicle for or if he was there for a prolonged period of time or if he was there (stuck in between the rocks) since the vehicle got stuck.”

Miller said when first responders arrived, the man was still alive. He was resting 6 feet below where his car was stuck. Redmond Fire & Rescue responded with a fire engine and two ambulances, Miller said, in order to hoist the victim out.

“They set up a rope-winch system using the car as an anchor to hoist him up from between the boulders. They hoisted him up to get him up and out,” Miller said.

Crews got him in an ambulance that rushed in St. Charles, Bend. Miller said the man died of cardiac arrest at the hospital on Sunday.

Heather Cassaro, public information officer for the city of Redmond, said the alleyway is not meant for vehicles or pedestrians. She said she believes this is the first time she has heard of anything like this happening at his particular location.

The Redmond Police Department did not return calls or an emailed list of questions regarding the incident as of Wednesday afternoon.

According to Anne Onishi, the medical examiner for Deschutes and Crook counties, the victim was 38 years old. He is the eighth known person to die in Oregon from the recent bout of cold weather, according to statewide reports. He was not identified as of Wednesday afternoon.

Deschutes County Public Health recommends the following during winter weather conditions:

• Try to stay indoors when weather is extremely cold, especially if winds are high.

• Make trips outside as brief as possible, if you must go outdoors.

• When going outside during very cold weather, adults and children should wear: a hat, a scarf or knit mask to cover face and mouth, sleeves snug at the wrist, insulated and waterproof mittens or gloves, several layers of loose-fitting, thermal wear or material that “wicks” the skin, a water-resistant or tightly woven coat and two layers of socks with boots or shoes that are waterproof and have flexible sole.

• Walking on ice is extremely dangerous. Many cold-weather injuries result from falls on ice-covered sidewalks, steps, driveways and porches. Keep your steps and walkways as free of ice as possible. You can do this by using rock salt or another chemical de-icing compound. Applying sand or cat litter to walkways can also reduce the risk of slipping.

If you need warm shelter, call 211 for warming shelter locations.