Tourists seeking photos on remote Oregon beach get trapped by tides, spell ‘SOS’ with driftwood

A group of tourists looking for a photo opportunity ended up stranded on a secluded beach in Tillamook, Oregon, after the tide blocked their way out, officials said Monday. Volunteer firefighters and rescue teams responded to a 911 call about three people stranded on Lost Boy Beach on Wednesday afternoon, according to Netarts-Oceanside Fire District Chief Jeff McBrayer. Officials were concerned that the the tourists would be at risk for hypothermia due to the winds and temperature. “Typically, we would wait until low tide, but that would have been late at night,” McBrayer told NBC News. “Our water rescue team used a rope system to access the victims, placed them in life vests and assisted them through the surf to safety.” McBrayer did not identify the individuals but described them as “two males, one female” in their 20s.

They were evaluated for injuries, but McBrayer said they only had “minor scrapes and bumps.” Photos of the rescue posted to the Netarts-Oceanside Fire District’s Facebook page showed that the group wrote “SOS” on the beach out of what appears to be driftwood. Lost Boy Beach is a remote area only accessible by crossing a sea cave or climbing down rough rocks, according to the Oregonian. An incoming tide can prevent anyone on the beach from leaving, the newspaper reported. The tourists