PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Four young people almost had to be rescued near the mouth of Netarts Bay on New Year’s Day, according to the Netarts-Oceanside Fire Protection District.
On Thursday, crews received a call about a vessel in distress. According to the fire district, a drone operator jumped into action and “noticed [the boat] Within minutes. “
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“Our crews discovered four young males on a very small, overloaded, underpowered boat who were not wearing life jackets,” officials said.
The men eventually made it back to the dock unscathed, but crew members say the outcome could have been very different.
This is the same fatal incident that occurred in 2020, when a similar-sized vessel was involved in an accident, according to the fire district. Capsized in the ebbing tide. The incident resulted in the death of one person and the rescue of one person.
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On New Year’s Day 2026, four young people were almost rescued near the mouth of Netarts Bay. (Netarts-Oceanside Fire District)
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On New Year’s Day 2026, four young people were almost rescued near the mouth of Netarts Bay. (Netarts-Oceanside Fire District)
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On New Year’s Day 2026, four young people were almost rescued near the mouth of Netarts Bay. (Netarts-Oceanside Fire District)
In issuing a distress call on Thursday, officials said the area experienced a nine-foot tidal exchange due to the king tide.
The agency added, “As Chief Carpenter often says, ‘The tide comes in like a river and goes out like a raging river.'”
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