Man drowns in first of two rip current rescues in Seaside
A man in his 50s died Saturday afternoon at Seaside in the first of two rip current rescues, Seaside Fire & Rescue said Sunday.
Rescue units received a call at 2:33 p.m. Saturday of a water rescue in progress on the beach from 6th Avenue. When they arrived, three Seaside lifeguards were in the water with two victims and multiple bystanders who were trying to assist.
Jet skis were used to assist the lifeguards in bringing everyone to the beach. Two people were taken to Providence Seaside Hospital for treatment and evaluation, the department said in a press release. A man in his 50s who was found unconscious in the water was declared dead after efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
Another water rescue occurred later in the day at the south end of Seaside’s beach off Avenue U. One of the rescued swimmers from the second incident, a 27-year-old female, told fire personnel that "they were in waist-deep water one minute and struggling in water over their heads the next," the release said
“We cannon stress the unpredictable dangers of the ocean enough,” said Genesee Dennis, Division Chief of Prevention for Seaside Fire & Rescue. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family for their tragic loss yesterday.”
The Seaside Police Department and Medix assisted Fire & Rescue on the initial call. Signs have been posted in the incident area advising of the immediate rip current danger.
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Man dies in first of two rip current rescues in Seaside, OR
