Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Coast Guard rescued a woman off a rock near Arch Cape on the Oregon coast Sunday.  However, her companion was swept to sea and has not been found.  Pete Springer reports.

Rescuers say Sokhak Peng and Deanna Feey climbed onto the rock during low tide and took a nap.

When they woke up, the tide had come in and surrounded the rock. 

Senior Chief Steven Fields is stationed with the Coast Guard in Astoria.

He says Peng and Feey tried to make back to shore, but the waves were too rough.

Steven Fields: “And a wave threw her back onto the rock high enough where she can get a grip and pulled herself up out of the water—and when she go up out of the water, he wasn’t on the rocks anymore and she looked around and she’d seen him in the water a couple of times.  And then he went under and she never saw him again.”

The Coast Guard suspended their search for Peng Sunday night.

Senior Chief Fields says the Oregon coast can be dangerous.  His recommendation for people who get stranded by a rising tide is not to get into the water, but wait for the tide to go back out if possible, or wait until help arrives.