Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard Thirteenth District

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News Release

Date: October 5, 2008
Contact: Petty Officer Shawn Eggert
206-220-9154
 

Search suspended for man near Newport Jetty

SEATTLE - The search for a 23-year-old man who was swept from a jetty near Newport, Ore., was suspended at 5:47 p.m. Sunday.

Members of the Coast Guard, Oregon State Police and Newport Fire Department scoured the area by foot, boat and helicopter for six hours before suspending the search.  

"Searchers looked for this man longer than the estimated survivability time," said Jeff Griffin, a watchstander at the Coast Guard Command Center in Seattle.

The missing man and a friend were knocked into the water by a wave while both were out on the south jetty.  The man's friend made it back to shore and waved down a Coast Guard motor lifeboat crew from Station Yaquina Bay who immediately began to search.  Searchers later found a white hoodie matching the description of one worn by the missing man but no other sign of him.  Both men are from the Portland area and were camping in the area with their girlfriends.

Signs posted at the entrance to the jetty warn of the dangers of creeping waves.   

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