Oregon Teen Miraculously Rescued After Nearly Drowning in Ocean’s Treacherous Waves!
An Oregon teen was saved by a brave rescue swimmer after being stranded in the dark ocean, just moments before hypothermia could set in. 🌐 #News #CannonBeachOR #Oregon #Accident
CANNON BEACH, OR – One local teen had a brush with death earlier this week. The lucky-to-be alive teenager went missing while boogie boarding off the coast of Oregon after dark. He was saved when a rescue swimmer heard a faint call for help, authorities said.
Search Efforts Begin
The Cannon Beach Rural Fire Protection District reported that a 911 call was made around 5:30 p.m. Monday, reporting a missing person in the ocean north of Haystack Rock.
Family members of the 19-year-old man told responders that a group of people had gone out on boogie boards just before sunset. Everyone but the teenager made it back to shore.
Fire crews launched a search and rescue operation and called in the U.S. Coast Guard, which sent a helicopter to assist.
Rescue in Darkness
A Cannon Beach Fire District rescue swimmer ventured out on a rescue surfboard in 8–12-foot waves, braving the dark conditions to search for the missing teen.
After five to 10 minutes, the swimmer heard a faint yell for help. The swimmer paddled toward the sound despite the lack of visibility.
“As the rescue swimmer paddled in the dark, while getting hit from the side by large waves, the swimmer was able to spot the silhouette of the boogie boarder through the flashing lights of fire and police vehicles on shore,” the fire department said.
Teen Found and Brought to Safety
The rescue swimmer located the teen about 50–75 yards offshore, just moments before the Coast Guard arrived. The teenager was found clinging to his boogie board, partially submerged, and was quickly helped onto the rescue surfboard.
“I cannot express how lucky this guy was to be found, with the large surf and king tides it was a miracle,” said Koa Lyu, head of the Cannon Beach Fire Ocean Safety Division.
“The water was really cold, he wouldn’t have lasted much longer before hypothermia would have set in.”
The swimmer brought the teen back to shore at approximately 6:03 p.m., where Medix Ambulance paramedics evaluated him. He was later released and is now doing well.
RELATED TOPICS: Accidents and Rescues | Oregon
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