Lizzy Acker

The Oregonian

Jeremy Stiles, 47, of Portland is expected to survive after he and his two young children were swept out into the ocean near Cannon Beach, Oregon State Police said Sunday.

Stiles’ seven-year-old daughter died Saturday and his son, 4, is still missing after the three were hit by a wave onshore at Falcon Cove, state officials said.

U.S. Coast Guard spokesman Petty Officer Steve Strohmaier said Sunday that the incident took place south of Cannon Beach near the Cape Falcon Shoreside Marine Protected Area.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, rescuers pulled Stiles and his daughter from the water. Both were unresponsive and taken to Providence Seaside Hospital, where the girl was pronounced dead.

Officials said Saturday that Stiles was onshore holding the children around 1 p.m. when they were hit by a wave. A Manzanita Police Department officer arrived and found the man struggling and his daughter further out in the water. The officer was able to pull the girl from the water.

Saturday’s search for the boy was conducted by helicopter and onshore crews, the Coast Guard said. After nearly five hours spent searching for the child, the effort was called off after dark.

Strohmaier said Sunday morning that the search had been suspended “indefinitely.”

“We’ve exhausted our resources,” Strohmaier said Saturday. “We’re obviously hoping for the best, but at this point it’s very challenging.”

The National Weather Service issued high surf warnings over the weekend as the Oregon Coast was hit with massive waves and king tides.

Mark Graves/The Oregonian A Coast Guard helicopter circles over Falcon Cove Beach in Oregon, where a family was swept into the ocean Saturday.