11/18/2008
By MARY HUDETZ
Associated Press
The Pacific Ocean has dragged away a 25-year-old man who took a nap on the rocks and then was trapped by the rising tide.
Sokhak Peng of Portland disappeared about 1:30 p.m. Sunday south of Cannon Beach. The Coast Guard searched for more than three hours Sunday and half a dozen local officers continued combing the beach Monday.
"Unfortunately, it's probably a loss," said Clatsop County Sheriff Thomas Bergin. "We have people watching and looking, but there's nothing you can really do. You have to wait."
Peng and his companion, 33-year-old Deanna Feey, took a day trip to Arch Cape, authorities said. Feey reported they hiked to the rocks at low tide and took a nap.
By the time they awoke, the tide had moved in, and their route to the mainland was submerged in water.
Peng's family arrived Monday at the site where he was swept away.
"He died of drowning," said his sister, Dara Khon. "She saw him gasp for a couple breaths."
Khon said the family is originally from Cambodia and fled fighting to the U.S. in 1988 "to escape the land mines."
Her brother had recently become a U.S. citizen, she said.
Kathy Oglesby, a housekeeper, said she and her husband were about 150 feet away, cleaning a cliffside home and had seen Peng and Feey sleeping on the rock and then get up and start moving around.
Later, when the tide started to move in, she said, both of them were standing, but they did not have a path back to the beach.
"It's like you're watching it happen in slow motion," she said. "But it was, you know, a matter of seconds and you couldn't see him anymore."
Oglesby recalls seeing a wave hit the rock, then seeing Peng's back in the water. Seconds later another wave rushed over him, and he disappeared, she said.
"It's all from our perspective, but you know there was no struggling, no scream for help," she said.
From her perspective, she said, it appeared that Peng was more concerned with Feey's safety than his own.
A Coast Guard helicopter responding to Oglesby's call arrived within six minutes, she said, and lifted Feey from the rock.
"She was clinging to that rock and a wave was breaking over it," said Robert Coster, a civilian search and rescue controller for the Coast Guard.
The water temperature was about 53 degrees, according to the Coast Guard, and Feey appeared to be developing hypothermia symptoms.
She was taken to a beach at the south end of Hug Point State Park, he said, and treated by an emergency services team.
The Coast Guard said the Pacific Northwest shorelines are especially dangerous during seasonal changes, and sneaker waves can appear without warning and are impossible to predict.
Sheriff Bergen said there are signs along the coast warning hikers of the risks.
"It's very common knowledge that the Oregon Coast is rugged," he said.
Sokhak Peng of Portland disappeared about 1:30 p.m. Sunday south of Cannon Beach. The Coast Guard searched for more than three hours Sunday and half a dozen local officers continued combing the beach Monday.
"Unfortunately, it's probably a loss," said Clatsop County Sheriff Thomas Bergin. "We have people watching and looking, but there's nothing you can really do. You have to wait."
Peng and his companion, 33-year-old Deanna Feey, took a day trip to Arch Cape, authorities said. Feey reported they hiked to the rocks at low tide and took a nap.
By the time they awoke, the tide had moved in, and their route to the mainland was submerged in water.
Peng's family arrived Monday at the site where he was swept away.
"He died of drowning," said his sister, Dara Khon. "She saw him gasp for a couple breaths."
Khon said the family is originally from Cambodia and fled fighting to the U.S. in 1988 "to escape the land mines."
Her brother had recently become a U.S. citizen, she said.
Kathy Oglesby, a housekeeper, said she and her husband were about 150 feet away, cleaning a cliffside home and had seen Peng and Feey sleeping on the rock and then get up and start moving around.
Later, when the tide started to move in, she said, both of them were standing, but they did not have a path back to the beach.
"It's like you're watching it happen in slow motion," she said. "But it was, you know, a matter of seconds and you couldn't see him anymore."
Oglesby recalls seeing a wave hit the rock, then seeing Peng's back in the water. Seconds later another wave rushed over him, and he disappeared, she said.
"It's all from our perspective, but you know there was no struggling, no scream for help," she said.
From her perspective, she said, it appeared that Peng was more concerned with Feey's safety than his own.
A Coast Guard helicopter responding to Oglesby's call arrived within six minutes, she said, and lifted Feey from the rock.
"She was clinging to that rock and a wave was breaking over it," said Robert Coster, a civilian search and rescue controller for the Coast Guard.
The water temperature was about 53 degrees, according to the Coast Guard, and Feey appeared to be developing hypothermia symptoms.
She was taken to a beach at the south end of Hug Point State Park, he said, and treated by an emergency services team.
The Coast Guard said the Pacific Northwest shorelines are especially dangerous during seasonal changes, and sneaker waves can appear without warning and are impossible to predict.
Sheriff Bergen said there are signs along the coast warning hikers of the risks.
"It's very common knowledge that the Oregon Coast is rugged," he said.
16 comments:
Another news from Bangkok post, a Thai black clad was killed while stepping on land mine in Cambodian territory on Sunday afternoon.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/181108_News/18Nov2008_news12.php
Thank You to Buddha for bringing Ah Pleu-Oversea to justice for the crime against Khmer People in Cambodia.
Stay in Hell and don't comeback, motherfucker!
Best news of the day!
Man, a pleu-oversea must have fucked your mom for you to so angree at him.
Don't use Budhha in the name of stupidity.
Buddha does not support motherfucker.
He'll be in Hell for eternity.
You guys so bad talking about buddha.Please!!
8:46AM
Your death will be as silent as a death of a rat. You will die a horrible death soon. Die you evil's pet, die.
8:46AM,
Ah Chkout like you event Khmer kids know that you are Ah Youn or Ah Youn inbreed. Becuse Khmer would never indiscriminately wish other Khmer to die like you did unless we that individual has committed a heinous crime. You get it Ah brainless animal.
Thank you Buddha for protecting Khmer People from Ah Pleu-Oversea's immoral diseases.
Hey 8:46 what kind of crime againth the khmer people of Cambodia Apleu-oversea could committed ?
Constantly spreading infidel's immoral diseases all over Cambodia. That is why Cambodia continues to suffer to this very day and no end in site either.
Thank God for the justice rendered to Ah Evil Khmer-Oversea!
Bon Voyage to Hell, Ah Pleu-Oversea! and don't comeback.
shut the fuck up Ah Pret Arch Kdor Ah Ho Chi Minh..Nam Penh kids 2:38pm motherfucker
Just ignore a chhkuot srok khmer.
People please don't be angry at 8:46 am. I am so sorry that Khmer guy oversea came and took your lover from you. If someone took my girlfriend, I would be angry too. On the behalf of the Khmer oversea, I want to say that we are sorry for your lost. However, you can not blame your lover for leaving you because you would not be able to make her happy anyway. Without a look and a bad personality, it may take a while but given time you might find another one if you are lucky.
Bless your heart 8:46 AM
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