A man was taken out to sea by a riptide near Chinook Winds Casino Resort around 1:45 p.m. Saturday after being thrown from his kayak in the breakers.
The victim was in the ocean with a kayak when waves knocked him out of the craft. He was not wearing a life vest.
The man was spotted drifting a few hundred yards out to sea by North Lincoln Fire & Rescue personnel. Rescuers relayed his position to a waiting water rescue unit that deployed a jetski that brought the man safely back to shore.
People familiar with the man said he would be okay and that he was a “strong person.” He was transported by ambulance to Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital.
A Coast Guard helicopter coming from North Bend was cancelled.
Lincoln City Police also responded.
Don Williams contributed to this report.
I’m glad this guy is ok.
What is it with people and life vests? I own one, and every time I get into
my kayak, I wear my vest, it has everything, knife, flashlight, matches,
super underwater whistle, compass- and more. In 2 feet of water I’ll
put on my vest, I just don’t get it how someone can go out in the water
without a vest, let alone the ocean. I wore my vest on the fishing charter, the only one who was, sure, you’ll have time to find that
vest when the boat starts sinking, you just won’t have time to put it
on.