Was a tough week of clamming with the storms coming through. Two different ladies on two different beaches were washed away and died on Friday while razor clamming. Just a reminder to be aware when digging at night in this kind of weather.
This was on the Pacific County Sheriffs Office Facebook page today.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - TWO DIE IN SURF
February 3, 2018 8:21pm Last Update:11:19pm
Writer: Sheriff Scott Johnson
Contact: Chief Criminal Deputy Pat Matlock
360-875-9395, 360-875-9397
TWO CLAM DIGGERS LOST IN THE SURF:
On Friday, February 2nd, 2018, two separate incidents of persons lost in the surf while clam digging in two separate locations were reported to Pacific County Sheriff's PACCOM 911 Communications Center within four minutes of each other. Both victims were female, and were accompanied by their spouses.
The first call came in at 8:57pm from the Oysterville beach approach north of Ocean Park on the Long Beach Peninsula. A 70 year old female was lost in the surf while digging clams. PCSO staff along with South Pacific County Technical Rescue (Surf Rescue) was immediately dispatched to search the area. Preliminary information is that a responding USCG helicopter was involved in a bird strike and was unable to proceed to the scene. The search was further hampered due to rough surf and weather conditions. However USCG was later able to dispatch a ground search crew to the area to work with other responders from PCSO, SPCTR, Wa. State Parks, Dept. of Wildlife, and Pacific County Fire District #1.
The second call came in at 9:01pm with a 61 year old female from Toledo reported as missing in the surf near the Warrenton Cannery Road. The victim had also been digging clams with her husband when the two became separated earlier in the evening. Rescue personnel from several agencies were immediately dispatched to the scene and began searching the area.
The body of the missing Ocean Park woman was located at 5pm today, Saturday, February 3rd near Westport, WA in Grays Harbor County. The body of the missing Toledo woman was located between the Cranberry and Midway beach approaches in Pacific County.
These incidents serve as a tragic reminder that one must always be vigilant of the powerful surf and waves that are often present on our ocean beaches. Always stay close to other clammers, bring a flashlight or lantern, a waterproof cell phone, and never turn your back on the surf as "sneaker waves" can appear at any time.
