Search for Missing Teen Called Off After Involving Coast Guard from Washington, Oregon

Published 05/25/25 at 6:05 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Long Beach, Washington) – The US Coast Guard Saturday called off a search for a teenage swimmer missing off the Washington coast's Long Beach Peninsula. After more than four hours of looking for the 15 year old – most of it in the dark - the search was suspended at 12:30 a.m. Saturday. (File photo / USGC)

The call originally came from Pacific County dispatch about 8 p.m. on Friday, with watchstanders from the Coast Guard Sector Columbia River on the Oregon coast side reporting the teen was in trouble in the waters off Long Beach.

Initially, the boy had been seen struggling to swim and two members of his party went out to try and rescue him. They soon required rescue themselves, with a Pacific County Rescue Swimmer on a jet ski sent out to assist them.

The pair were apparently suffering from hypothermia and a local EMS transported them to Ocean Beach Hospital.

The US Coast Guard launched a 47-foot motor lifeboat from Station Cape Disappointment with several crewmembers onboard as well as a MH-60 Jayhawk from Air Station Astoria. The search was exhaustive, covering over 100 nautical miles in the region.

Greg Merten, Coast Guard Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator, said the search was suspended pending any new information – which has not materialized.

“The act of suspending any search, let alone that of a 15-year-old, is something that the Coast Guard does not take lightly and not without a heavy heart,” Merten said. “We would like to thank the swimmer from Pacific County for their heroism and extend our deepest condolences to everyone affected by this horrible tragedy.”

The USGC reports that at the time, winds were 8 knots from the Northwest, with three-foot waves and water temps at 54 degrees. Air temperature was at 53 degrees.

Experts say this part of the Washington coast is rougher than further south and much more difficult to swim in.

Earlier this month, USCG crews responded to another incident off the Oregon coast just south of here at Cannon Beach, with reports a ship offshore had sent off a distress flare.

Crews called off the overnight search a few hours later, after not finding any vessel and with no reports of one missing from the area. The conclusion was there was no boat in distress.

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