Photo by George Kunke - Family and friends watch as a Coast Air Station Astoria MH-60 Jayhawk searches for a 14-year-old boy in the ocean in Long Beach last Memorial Day.
LONG BEACH -- A Memorial Day family outing on the main access to the beach in Long Beach turned to tragedy when a 14-year-old boy was presumed drowned after possibly getting caught in a rip current/undertow while swimming in the ocean.
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search last Monday night (May 31) for the boy, who was reportedly swept offshore while standing in water up to his waist when he went missing, a Washington State Park Ranger told the Herald at the scene.
At approximately 2:00 p.m., the teenager was reported to be missing by his friend, who confirmed he was wearing a red swimmers cap, gray T-shirt and black swim shorts.
Petty Officer Cynthia Oldham of the Astoria Coast Guard Sector Columbia River talked to the Herald by phone Monday morning about the incident. Oldham has been with the Coast Guard for 16 years, including 15 in Astoria and one year in Boston.
"As of this morning (9:45 am), we had no reports of finding him," Oldham informed. "When a search is suspended, they won't back out pending information, such as, if a fisherman saw something and called it in, then we would relaunch.
"We're not exactly sure what happened to him, it would just be a speculation to say a rip current took him under," Oldham said. "He was from Portland (Oregon) here for vacation. He was with a friend in the water and a bunch of family and friends were onshore."
The Coast Guard does not release names of minors. "No, we don't have a name to release," Oldham said. "Typically, the names of minors are not released."
Though Pacific Northwest beaches are a popular destination for recreation, beachgoers need to keep in mind the number of unpredictable and ever-changing dangers, including strong waves, riptides, undertows and cold water temperatures. Always be aware of your surroundings. Oldham warned about the dangers of swimming in Washington beach waters.
"There are a lot of people who aren't exposed to it and don't realize just how dangerous the ocean is," Oldham said. "It's so powerful and the waves are really dangerous and the water was cold. Even experienced swimmers can find themselves in danger."
Oldham said that if you are caught by an undertow or riptide, "you should go parallel to shore to get out of the rip currents," adding that she has two children ages 10 and 12. "I have my kids wear life jackets whenever they go in the ocean."
Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector Columbia River command center were notified at 2:06 p.m. An urgent marine information broadcast was issued as an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Sector Columbia River and a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew from Station Cape Disappointment were directed to respond and on scene at 2:30 p.m.
"Helicopter crews are rotated out because we don't want to risk pilots getting fatigued," Oldham added.
The Coast Guard, which received the call at officially 2:03 pm, saturated an area of approximately 52 square miles, completing eight searches over more than 17.9 hours. The search was suspended at 10:26 p.m Monday.
"Suspending search efforts is always an extremely difficult and heart-wrenching decision, especially when involving children," said Capt. Nathan Coulter, 13th Coast Guard District, chief of incident management.
"This was a real tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the young man involved," Coulter added. "A huge thanks to the many women and men who assisted in planning and carrying out this search effort, including among others, the Coast Guard, Pacific County, Washington Park Rangers, and good Samaritans. As is often the case, these public servants answered the call instinctively and without delay to come to the aid of others."
Units involved in the search included Coast Guard Sector Columbia River watchstanders, Coast Guard Air Station Astoria MH-60 Jayhawk crews, Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment 47-foot MLB crews, along with multiple partner agencies and a rotation of Coast Guard crews participated in the coordinated search operations, including Washington State Park Service Rangers, surf Rescue, Long Beach Volunteer Fire Department, Long Beach Police Department and Beach patrol, and concerned volunteers. Several authorities continually searched from the beach with binoculars to no avail.