Wednesday Night: Man Drowns in Seaside - Armed Standoff Near Oregon Coast Range

Published 07/30/2026 at 7:55 p.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Seaside, Oregon) – Two major incidents happened on and near the Oregon coast Wednesday evening, which included one man drowning in the ocean and another man creating a standoff in the Coast Range.

The City of Seaside reports a man died at Seaside not long after being rescued from the water Wednesday night.

The 41-year-old was pulled from the surf near Avenue T in Seaside, following a large multi-agency rescue effort from agencies around the north Oregon coast.

Dispatchers received a 911 call at 7:27 p.m. reporting two people in the water signaling for help. Seaside police officers reached the beach within minutes and confirmed the swimmers were in distress.

Rescue crews from Seaside Fire & Rescue, Cannon Beach Fire & Rescue and the U.S. Coast Guard launched jet skis and sent swimmers into the surf.

“A short time later, rescuers pulled a 41-year-old man from the water,” the City said. “He was transported to Providence Seaside Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.”

Seaside: Oregon Coast Beach Connection

Two firefighters suffered injuries during the rescue and were treated and released.

With warm weather expected in the days ahead, Seaside officials urged beachgoers to use caution, noting that ocean conditions can be unpredictable and rip currents remain a persistent hazard. They advised visitors to swim with a partner and avoid areas known for dangerous surf.

Agencies assisting in the response included Seaside Fire & Rescue, Cannon Beach Fire & Rescue, the U.S. Coast Guard, Medix and the Seaside Police Department.

The incident comes just a week after another serious rescue in Cannon Beach: Group of Five Rescued from Oregon Coast Surf After Repeated Warnings by Lifeguards - As they were about to make their fourth warning, Cannon Beach lifeguards had to go into action

Courtesy Washington County Sheriffs (stock photo)

The same night, along one of the routes to the Oregon Coast Range, Washington County deputies arrested a Laurelwood-area man in the later hours after reports that he was firing a gun outside his home.

Calls began coming in just before midnight. Deputies and Forest Grove police responded to the 39000 block of SW Laurelwood Road, where they learned the man - identified as 35-year-old Neil Hektner - is a convicted felon barred from possessing firearms. Officers secured the area and requested the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Negotiations Team and Crisis Negotiations Unit.

“While CNU was negotiating with Hektner, investigators applied for and were granted a search warrant,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “After about two and a half hours, Hektner surrendered, and deputies took him into custody and transported him to jail. Hektner was charged with ten counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.”

The Sheriff’s Office said no injuries or property damage have been reported.

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