Tragic Death in Lincoln City Surf Sunday During Varied Wave Alerts on Oregon Coast

Updated 10/21/25 at 9:35 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Lincoln City, Oregon) – UPDATED: Rescuers in Lincoln City responded to a tragic incident Sunday, and it's likely rough conditions along the Oregon coast were to blame. (Photo NLFR)

One person was swept out to sea near the mouth of Siletz Bay, say rescuers.

UPDATES: Victim was a woman from Corvallis in her 40s. Authorities say she was carried out to sea hundreds of feet and down the beach from where she was swept in.

North Lincoln Fire & Rescue (NLFR) responded to the emergency at approximately 3:40 p.m. after 911 dispatchers received reports of an individual caught in a powerful current. NLFR crews arrived within minutes and deployed two rescue jet skis to begin the search.

The U.S. Coast Guard joined the operation with two lifeboats and a helicopter, while Lincoln City Police supported shoreline efforts using a drone. Additional assistance came from Depoe Bay Fire District.

Despite an intensive multi-agency response, the individual was located and pronounced deceased. The Oregon State Police has taken over the investigation and will release further details as they become available.

Photo NLFR

In a public statement, NLFR expressed condolences to the victim’s family and urged beachgoers to exercise extreme caution.

It has been a weekend of fairly heavy surf and active sneaker wave alerts all along the Oregon coast. It has not yet been determined this was due to those conditions, but NLFR has emphasized those dangers when writing about this incident.

Sneaker waves, they said, are known for their sudden and forceful surges, and they pose a serious threat to coastal visitors.

“Never turn your back on the ocean,” NLFR officials warned. “If the sand is wet, the water has already reached that point. And if someone is swept out, do not go in after them - call 911 immediately and keep eyes on them from shore.”

Posts on social media about wave warnings on the coastline often result in at least one or two people ridiculing the idea. The incident serves as a sobering reminder of the unpredictable nature of Oregon’s coastal waters, particularly during periods of increased wave activity.

See Lincoln City Weather for recent alerts, warnings

The National Weather Service (NWS) had issued a variety of alerts on the Washington and Oregon coast for the weekend. A beach hazards statement about increased risk for sneaker waves expired earlier today but was immediately replaced by a high surf advisory, warning that breakers up to 26 feet could hit beach areas from Long Beach down through Brookings.

The current high surf advisory is in effect until tomorrow (Monday) morning.

Below: alerts issued on Sunday from NWS:

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