A 67-year-old Walnut Creek man is missing and presumed dead after he fell into the ocean while trying to jump across a narrow inlet known as Devils Churn on Thursday near Yachats, Oregon State Police reported.
Police said Steve Allen of Walnut Creek fell back into the sea while trying to jump across Devils Churn, a popular site for visitors to the Oregon coast. The inlet is located off of Highway 101, near Yachats in Lincoln County.
Other visitors tried to rescue Allen after he fell into the ocean but were unsuccessful, according to Oregon State Police. A witness said the Walnut Creek man was able to grab a makeshift life ring thrown to him by others but was unable to hang on. He was last seen unresponsive in the water before rescuers lost sight of him.
Locals familiar with the area said the inlet looks deceptively easy to hurdle at its narrowest point but that the rocks on either side are slick and sharp, making it easy for someone to trip and slide back into the sea.
A Coast Guard search for Allen was suspended at around 6:40 p.m. OSP said the Walnut Creek man is presumed deceased.
Great Video! No wonder it got its name.
Very tragic, sorry to hear about this man being lost.
I must have driven past this place a dozen times. Wow. You can almost see where he thought he might make a jump of that type at its narrow point but o man the consequences if you miscalculate. Didn’t know the man but I hope he has found his God.
Gave me the shivers. RIP Mr. Allen.
Why would he try to jump it? Can’t you walk AROUND it at the narrow part? I guess we’ll never know. Don’t mess with the ocean.