Surfer Injured at Cape Kiwanda on Oregon Coast

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Surfer Injured at Cape Kiwanda on Oregon Coast

The following is a joint press release by the Tillamook County Sheriff's Office and the Oregon State Police (OSP)

A 14-year old Bend-area boy was seriously injured Sunday morning when he was struck by a Dory fishing boat coming to shore at Cape Kiwanda on the north Oregon coast. The Tillamook County Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol is conducting the investigation into the boating incident.

On July 6, 2008, at approximately 9:51 a.m., OSP Senior Trooper Doug Shugart was checking Dory Boat fisherman off the beach at Cape Kiwanda, home to a large Dory fishing fleet and also a popular surfing location. The ocean was fairly rough with swells greater than nine feet, providing for great surfing but poor visibility to Dory boats coming to shore.

Senior Trooper Shugart saw a Dory boat preparing to come to shore, then heard from citizens that the boat had struck a surfer. He located the injured surfer who was bleeding from a left arm amputation, being aided to shore by other surfers. The limb was recovered by a surfer. Senior Trooper Shugart began providing emergency medical care for the 14-year-old victim, Cole Ortega, from Bend.

The operator of the Dory boat was identified as Darrel Martin, age 55, from Beaver.

Senior Trooper Shugart located an emergency room physician who was walking on the beach nearby. Senior Trooper Shugart transported the victim in his patrol vehicle to the main parking lot of Cape Kiwanda while the emergency room doctor provided care to ORTEGA. Shortly thereafter, ORTEGA was transferred to a Tillamook County Ambulance and was subsequently transported to the Tillamook County General Hospital.

ORTEGA had been surfing with his 16-year old sister and her boyfriend. Other members of ORTEGA'S family were on scene.

Due to high surf, numerous surfers and Dory boats on the water, deputies from the Tillamook County Sheriff's Office and troopers from OSP requested that all surfers exit the water so Dorys could come to shore safely.