Seaside surf rescue turns deadly as two rescuers are injured
A 41-year-old man died after a surf rescue in Seaside, Oregon, while two fire crew members were injured and later released from treatment.
A 41-year-old man died after being pulled from the ocean during a rescue operation off Avenue T in Seaside, Oregon, on Wednesday evening. Two fire department crew members were also injured during the response but were treated and released, city officials said.
Key takeaways
The incident prompted a multi-agency response along the northern Oregon coast.
- 911 calls for a water rescue came in at about 7:30 p.m.
- Police found two people in the waves signaling for help.
- Rescuers from Seaside, Cannon Beach and the U.S. Coast Guard joined the operation.
- A 41-year-old man was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
- Two fire crew members were treated and released after being injured.
The city did not disclose how the rescuers were hurt. Officials also did not provide additional information about the second person seen in the water.
Multi-agency rescue response
Seaside police officers arrived after members of the public called 911 to report people in distress offshore. Search-and-rescue personnel from Seaside and Cannon Beach, along with the U.S. Coast Guard, were dispatched to assist.
Rescuers eventually brought the man out of the water and transported him to a nearby hospital. Despite those efforts, he was declared dead there.
Officials warn of ocean hazards
Seaside officials urged beachgoers to use heightened caution as warmer weather was expected in the coming week. They emphasized that ocean conditions can change quickly and may include powerful rip currents.
The city recommended swimming with a buddy and avoiding areas known for rip currents. People caught in a rip current are generally advised not to fight the current directly, but to remain calm and swim parallel to shore when possible while signaling for help.
Rescue follows Cannon Beach incident
The fatal Seaside rescue occurred one day after five teenagers were pulled from a rip current at Cannon Beach. Lifeguards have described the area involved in that rescue as one of the beach’s most dangerous sections.
The back-to-back incidents underscore the risks of swimming in the Pacific, where surf, currents and changing conditions can overwhelm even capable swimmers and create dangerous situations for those attempting rescues.