Depoe Bay search suspended for man swept out to sea
(Update: Search suspended; waves damage restaurant, businesses)
DEPOE BAY, Ore. (AP) – Oregon State Police say a man has been swept out to sea at Depoe Bay.
Witnesses told police that the man went over a sea wall Thursday morning to look at the big waves from a storm. He was then swept off the rocks.
The Coast Guard and local rescue crews searched for the man Thursday. The Coast Guard said Thursday night that the search had been suspended “due to negative results.”
Troopers said the Coast Guard notified them they had ended search efforts around 7:15 p.m. and that “due to the ocean temperature and surf conditions, they do not anticipate resuming” the search on Friday.
The man was identified as a 46-year-old man who had been living in Newport but was from Mexico. Troopers said he is presumed dead. The man’s name will be released once the Mexican Consulate has notified family members.
North Lincoln Fire & Rescue reported damage to a restaurant, two motels and other businesses on the beachfront in Lincoln City and said one person had been hospitalized after being hit by a wave. Fire officials also posted photos of damage to the establishments on Facebook.
The waves also forced the closure of beaches and access points along the coast.
Large “sneaker” waves have killed more than two dozen people along the Oregon coast since 1990.
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OSP news release:
On January 18, 2018 at approximately 11:20 am the Oregon State Police responded to Depoe Bay for a report of a male that had been swept off the rocks near the sea wall in Depoe Bay. Witnesses reported the male went over the sea wall to look at the ocean and was then swept off the rocks.
Depoe Fire and Rescue, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Coast Guard responded to assist with the search. The Coast Guard helicopter from the Coast Guard Air Facility Newport responded to the area within ten minutes and the crew, aboard a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, is continuing the water search but the male has not been seen since.
People are urged to be aware of the sneaker waves, high water, debris pattern from ocean waves, and not to cross closed parking lots or parks that are closed due to the ocean conditions.
