US Coast Guard Forced to Suspend Search for Men Off South Oregon Coast, Missing Near Gold Beach

Published 09/02/25 at 7:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Gold Beach, Oregon) - After a lengthy search in nighttime waters a few miles off the south Oregon coast, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has called off a search for two people missing after a boat had overturned. (USCG file photo)

The USCG reports the incident began on Sunday night, when the two disappeared after their motorized catamaran overturned approximately four miles off the coast of Gold Beach.

A third individual aboard the 26-foot vessel was rescued by a passing boater and brought ashore for medical evaluation by local emergency responders. All three occupants were reportedly wearing life jackets at the time of the incident.

The Coast Guard received the initial distress report around 9:00 p.m. from Curry County 911, prompting a multi-agency response that included crews from Station Chetco River, Air Station North Bend, and Air Station Humboldt Bay in California. Search efforts involved a 47-foot motor lifeboat, a 29-foot response boat, a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, and a two-person jet ski team from Gold Beach Water Safety.

Despite extensive efforts, including a first-light aerial search Monday morning, crews were unable to locate the missing men. Over 130 track-line miles were covered, spanning more than 75 square nautical miles.

Search pattern for this effort / USCG

“This is a very tragic situation,” said Master Chief Petty Officer Carlos Hessler, Officer in Charge at Station Chetco River. “Anytime there is a vessel in distress, we do everything we can to help those in need. Our hearts are with the boaters and their families during this difficult time.”

At the time of the search, weather conditions included winds of 18 to 20 knots, wave heights between 4 and 6 feet, and air and water temperatures of 57 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively.

Gold Beach - Courtesy Manuela Durson - Manuela Durson Fine Arts.

The Coast Guard has not released the identities of the missing individuals.

It has been a very busy season for Coast Guard rescues along this coastline and off the Washington coast.

In late August, USCG, Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Coast Guard joined together off the Washington coast last night to rescue two individuals experiencing medical emergencies. Two critically ill passengers aboard the Ruby Princess cruise ship were successfully airlifted.

A number of them did not have happy endings, where searches were suspended after a time. This included a boat that was found adrift and empty of its sole operator, and a fishermen lost at Newport when his vessel capsized.

US Coast Guard Joins with Canadian Forces for Rescue Off Washington Coast - Video - Two critically ill passengers aboard the Ruby Princess cruise ship

US Coast Guard Halts Search for Missing Fisherman Off Central Oregon Coast - The vessel capsized near Newport's Yaquina Bay Jetty over the weekend

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