Just before 5:00pm, Saturday, April 23rd, a visitor at the Whale Cove Inn, in Depoe Bay, witnessed two juveniles walking on the beach and then up onto the rocky shore just North of the hotel becoming trapped on the rocky shore by the tide, and called 911.
The Depoe Bay Fire District was immediately dispatched with first responding units arriving at the hotel in less than 4 minutes and upon arrival, were able to locate the two victims .
While enroute resources from the United States Coast Guard Station Depoe Bay and a helicopter from United States Coast Guard Sector North Bend were requested. United States Coast Guard Station Depoe Bay arrived on scene and with the Depoe Bay Fire District developed a plan to rescue the 13 year old female and 15 year-old male.
Firefighters from the Depoe Bay Fire District then relocated to an area closer to the victims to communicate with the two, however, access to rescue the juveniles was not an option at that time due to the incoming tides. Both teens were able to climb high enough away from the water to avoid being swept into the ocean.
A United States Coast Guard helicopter was available and responded to the scene from the Newport Airport in just under 20 minutes, and worked closely with Depoe Bay Fire crews to coordinate a plan for the helicopter crew to hoist the siblings up from the rocky shore and back onto safer ground on the sandy beach just north of where the two started their journey.
The USCG helicopter successfully rescued the pair, delivering them to awaiting Depoe Bay Firefighters where they were assessed for injuries and hypothermia. The siblings were uninjured and returned safely to their concerned parents.
