Sneaker Waves Obliterate Oregon, Woman Killed (Video)

The Tillamook Coast official Instagram account posted the video with this warning: “Please use extreme caution at the Oregon Coast and never turn your back on the ocean. View from a safe distance and never be on the beaches during high tides, when there are sneaker wave warning, and definitely not during king tides.”

Sadly, amidst the flurry of high surf, a woman was swept away by a sneaker wave down the coast from Cape Kiwanda in Siletz Bay. On Sunday, 43-year-old Caroline Moses was walking the shores when she was pulled in the water by a wave. A rescue operation ensued, and two hours later, her body was found four miles south of where she was swept into the water. She did not survive the incident.

“Lots of our water rescue members are local surfers, and they were even saying that yesterday they haven’t seen ocean like this in probably about 15 years,” said North Lincoln Fire and Rescue personnel Cody Heidt.

A multi-agency operation was conducted, with Coast Guard boats in the water, drone operators searching on land, and spotters scouring the beach. But they were unable to locate the victim when she was still in the water.

Heidt continued: “We always encourage people not to turn their backs on the ocean. And remember, if you’re in wet sand, that water is already reaching that spot.”