Interview: Cannon Beach firefighters recall Monday’s heroic ocean rescue

Cannon Beach firefighters Levi Anderson and Koa Lyu talk with KATU News’ Zach Barnes
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A 19-year-old male was rescued from the ocean near Haystack Rock after going missing during a boogie boarding outing on January 13, 2025. The Cannon Beach Fire District Rescue Team responded to a 911 call at approximately 5:30 p.m. reporting the missing person.

Family members of the missing teen informed rescue personnel that a group had entered the ocean with boogie boards just before sunset, but only one failed to return to shore. The fire rescue crews launched an ocean search and rescue operation, and the Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter to assist.

A Cannon Beach Fire District Rescue Swimmer braved the 8- to 12-foot waves in the darkness, paddling a rescue surfboard in search of the missing boogie boarder. After 5 to 10 minutes, the swimmer heard a faint call for help and navigated toward the sound despite the challenging conditions.

The rescue swimmer spotted the silhouette of the boogie boarder, illuminated by the flashing lights of emergency vehicles onshore. The swimmer reached the 19-year-old, who was clinging to his partially submerged boogie board about 50 to 75 yards offshore, just minutes before the Coast Guard arrived.

The teen was safely brought back to shore by the rescue swimmer at 6:03 p.m. and evaluated by Medix Ambulance paramedics. He was released shortly after.

"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, Cannon Beach Fire Ocean Safety Division Head. "The water was really cold, he wouldn’t have lasted much longer before hypothermia would have set in."

https://katu.com/news/local/teen-rescued-from-ocean-near-haystack-rock-after-going-missing-cannon-beach-oregon
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Author: KATU News
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News post in at: January 16, 2025, 3:00 am.

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