Full, Dramatic Story Released on Rescue of 4-Year-Old on Oregon Coast

Published 07/11/26 at 7:45 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Oceanside, Oregon) - A family’s July 4 outing on the north Oregon coast turned frantic for one family. Now, Tillamook County authorities have released the full story on the incident at Cape Lookout State Park. A massive search search effort came together Thursday evening after a 4-year-old girl went missing near the water - a case that ultimately ended in a remarkable rescue thanks to fast action and a multi-agency response. (All photo NOFD)

Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) said the complete story took some time to compile: with so many involved there were multiple interviews that had to be conducted.

Sgt. Chase Ross launched an immediate hasty search after receiving the initial report and quickly activated partner agencies. Authorities said the child had become separated from her family on the beach, prompting an urgent sweep of a vast area.

“The search spanned challenging coastal terrain, dense vegetation, beaches, and offshore waters as responders worked tirelessly against time and the elements,” TCSO said.

Searchers also faced a communication challenge: the family spoke only Russian. Responders were fortunate to have a Russian-speaking team member on scene to help bridge the gap.

A key break came when Oregon State Police Trooper Mayne contacted a camper who believed she had seen the child earlier. The camper provided a time and direction of travel - information investigators said directly influenced the search pattern and helped lead rescuers to the girl. TCSO publicly thanked the camper for stepping forward.

After several hours, crews located the child roughly three miles from where she had disappeared. This corrects the original figure of “five miles” given earlier this week.

She was alert and taken to Adventist Health Tillamook, where she was reported to be in good condition.

Netarts-Oceanside Fire District (NOFD) explained it was two Oregon State Parks rangers (named Matt and Justin – last names not given) who had found the girl. The pair were among the many who were looking along the search grid. Night was approaching and the temp was dropping fast, but no one had yet reached the tip of the spit.

The two agreed it would haunt them if they didn't check the end of the spit, and then on the final mile of that stretch of sand, Matt and Justin caught sight of the child standing in the grass.

“She was shivering heavily and was obviously frightened,” NOFD said. “Both Rangers pointed to their badges as a way to hopefully communicate safety to the victim. Justin removed his coat and wrapped it around the little girl, then carried her to the ATV. “

“An incredible number of miles of open ocean, beach, campground area and mountain trails were searched,” NOFD said.

The sheriff’s office credited the outcome to an unusually large and well-coordinated response involving Oregon State Parks rangers, TCSO deputies, Tillamook County Search & Rescue volunteers, Netarts-Oceanside Fire District personnel and drone teams, Tillamook Ambulance, the U.S. Coast Guard, Tillamook 911 and other partners.

Sheriff Josh Brown said the rescue underscored the importance of teamwork.

“Incidents like this serve as a reminder that successful outcomes are rarely the result of one individual or one agency,” Brown said. “They are made possible through partnerships, training, communication, and an unwavering commitment to protecting our community.”

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