Overview

• Emergency calls around 3:36–3:40 p.m. on Sept. 15 reported a person swept into Thor’s Well during an incoming tide south of Yachats.
• Ground crews from Yachats, Waldport and Seal Rock confirmed the man was in the water but could not reach him due to dangerous surf and the well’s configuration.
• A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter from North Bend arrived about 30 minutes after the first call; after two unsuccessful attempts, a rescue swimmer recovered the body.
• Police have not released the man’s identity and said he was alone, and a vehicle with Colorado plates and camping gear was towed from the nearby U.S. 101 lot.
• Authorities say the circumstances of how he entered Thor’s Well remain unclear as the Lincoln County chief medical examiner and law enforcement continue their inquiries.