Two women swept out to sea off Oregon Coast during storm

Woodmonkey · 11-09-2006, 03:10

It came over the news that these two women were warned to stay off of the beach, but they went any way. The Oregon Coast can be very dangerous during storms, but people just aren't careful.

2 women believed swept out to sea; 1 body found

One body was found and a second woman is missing after the pair took a walk on Gleneden Beach and authorities believe they were swept out to sea.

61-year-old Jan Benefiel and 78-year-old Elma Benefiel, of Beaverton

The search resumed Wednesday morning on Gleneden Beach in Lincoln County after it was called off at midnight due to weather and lightning. They resumed searching for the second body Wednesday morning.

Lieutenant Vicky Ryan of the Depoe Bay Fire District says they couldn't release more information until family members had been notified.

High surf, high winds and a high tide were the reported conditions where the women were walking.

High surf, high winds and a high tide were the reported conditions at the time.

The US Coast Guard and a helicopter searched the beach. Several law enforcement agencies and tracking dogs also searched. Authorities say the dogs picked up the scent of the women.

The search was called off at midnight due to weather and lightning.

The Source

conlor · 11-09-2006, 22:26

I'd be scared to go on the beach during a storm!

Snowden · 11-09-2006, 22:42

A terrible thing, badly told. Whoever wrote it will never win an award for journalism! I guess the person was in some sort of shock that such a thing had happened.

No - the beach isn't the place to be during a storm!

Woodmonkey · 11-10-2006, 00:56

The Oregon Coast can be dangerous even without the conditions that night. It's known for it's sneaker waves that can suddenly hit and people have been swept out to sea. Then there are logs in the sea that get thrown up on the beach, sometimes on people.

Snowden · 11-10-2006, 09:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodmonkey

The Oregon Coast can be dangerous even without the conditions that night. It's known for it's sneaker waves that can suddenly hit and people have been swept out to sea. Then there are logs in the sea that get thrown up on the beach, sometimes on people.

I'd never heard that, Katie. And it seems those women were local people. Strange that they would insist on walking there, especially under those conditions.

conlor · 11-10-2006, 11:28

They might have been used to walking there and thought they knew what they were doing. Or they had a suicide pact.