WARRENTON, Ore.— Coast Guard crews are searching for a 17-year-old girl who reportedly fell off a cliff and into the water at Cape Kiwanda.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Astoria, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Facility Newport and a 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew from Station Tillamook Bay are all on scene to search for the missing girl.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received a 911 relay call at 3:06 p.m. from a 16-year-old girl who reported her friend had fallen into the water while they were hiking. The Jayhawk crew was in the air for training and diverted to assist the case, while the Dolphin crew and the Motor Life Boat crew launched at 3:10 p.m.
"We are working diligently with other search and rescue agencies to coordinate a thorough search of the Cape Kiwanda area in hopes of finding the girl," said Chief Petty Officer Matthew Degerolamo, a watchstander at Sector Columbia River. "We have several crews on scene, and our rescue swimmers and boat crews are ready to bring her to safety."
During the search, two local fire and rescue personnel who were searching the area on personal watercraft reportedly fell into the water as sea conditions began to worsen and were hoisted by the Jayhawk crew. One responder was dropped off at the beach and the other was transferred to emergency medical services personnel in Lincoln City.
The weather at the time of the initial call was reported to be 8-to-10 foot swells with wind speeds of 5 to 10 mph.