The Coast Guard and partner agencies rescued three adults and four children from the cliffs Friday afternoon May 29th, south of Yaquina Head near Agate Beach.
While surfing off of Agate Beach, a rip tide along the southern cliff wall of Yaquina Head pulled five of the individuals out to sea where they were subsequently trapped along the rocky cliffs. Two good Samaritans tried to assist, but also found themselves caught in the rip tide.
This afternoon we received a report of three adults and four children who were in distress at Agate Beach. While surfing off of Agate Beach, a rip tide along the southern cliff wall of Yaquina Head pulled five of the individuals out to sea where they were subsequently trapped along the rocky cliffs. Two good Samaritans tried to assist, but also found themselves caught in the rip tide.Personnel from U.S. Coast Guard Station Yaquina Bay, Newport Police Department, Newport Fire Department, Toledo Fire Department, Oregon State Police, Lincoln County Sheriff's Department, and local EMS all responded to the location. USCG Station Yaquina Bay launched two motor life boats, a Dolphin helicopter and a shore rescue crew.Two of the adults and all four children were safely hoisted to the USCG helicopter while the remaining individual was brought up to the clifftop by the fire department's high angle rescue crew. Two of the parents watched the rescue from a parking lot above. Video footage by Officer Sam Clark.#TeamEffort #USCG #BravoZulu
Coast Guard Sector North Bend received a report of four children in distress. The children, ages 8, 9, 13 and 16, were surfing when the strong current pushed them from safer waters.
Sector North Bend immediately directed the launch of Coast Guard crews and issued an urgent marine information broadcast at 2:45pm as an MH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter crew launched from Air Facility Newport, and two Station Yaquina Bay 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crews diverted from training.
A Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Facility Newport, assisted by boatcrews from Station Yaquina Bay, rescued multiple people from the cliffs near Yaquina Head, OR.A Newport Fire Department ropes team also directly assisted in the rescue. Several local and state emergency response agencies were involved.All 7 distressed persons were successfully rescued. No injuries were reported.BRAVO ZULU!IMAGERY AVAILABLEFull news release here:https://bit.ly/2Xi4res U.S. Coast Guard Station Yaquina BayU.S. Coast Guard Sector North BendCity of Newport Fire DepartmentOregon State PoliceLincoln County Sheriff's Office – OregonNewport Oregon Police DepartmentToledo Oregon Fire & Rescue
The Station Yaquina Bay boatcrews arrived on scene at approximately 3:00pm followed by the the aircrew at 3:15pm and confirmed there were seven people stranded on the rocks near Yaquina Head.
(courtesy U.S. Coast Guard)
A rescue swimmer deployed from the helicopter and coordinated with a Newport Fire Department ropes team to hoist six persons, including the four children, into the aircraft before being transported to local EMS waiting nearby ashore. The final distressed person was recovered by the ropes team.
All seven distressed persons were evaluated by EMS, and no injuries were reported.
