Girl, 7, dies and brother, 4, missing after wave ripped them from dad’s arms and into Oregon ocean

A seven-year-old girl has died after she and her brother were swept out of their father’s arms and into the ocean on a day when monster surf reached 35 feet.

Jeremy Stiles, 47, was on the shore holding the little girl and his four-year-old son in the Falcon Cove, Oregon area at approximately 12.38pm on Saturday when they got caught up in rough waters combined with high tide, also known as king tide.

The children’s mother called 911 and when a police officer arrived, the dad was struggling to get out of the ocean while his daughter was seen further out in the water. 

The juveniles have not been publicly identified. 

He was on the shore holding the seven-year-old girl and his four-year-old son in the Falcon Cove area at approximately 12.38pm on Saturday when they got caught up

The Manzanita Police Department officer was able to retrieve the young female child and brought her to shore south of Arch Cape, Oregon State Police said. 

Videos from some of the reported hundreds of people who gathered on Cannon Beach Saturday afternoon showed the massive waves crashing into the shore. 

The forecast said waves would be about 10 feet Saturday, putting the surf height around 30 feet. But a KPTV reporter said swells of 35 feet were seen.

Authorities advised locals to stay away from jetties, logs and rocks on the beach which could be lifted up by waves as they experienced some of the worst conditions of the winter.

Both the father and daughter were unconscious at the scene, near the county line of Clatsop County and Tillamook County and they were transported by Medix Ambulance to Providence Seaside Hospital.

Cannon Beach Fire Department and Cannon Beach Police Department assisted the search for the little boy but the United States Coast Guard had to send helicopters, declaring it too difficult to be carried out by boat.

However the search, captured on video by KPTV, had to be suspended at sunset and the little boy was not located.

The children’s mother called 911 and when a police officer arrived, Stiles was struggling to get out of the ocean and his daughter was seen further out in the water. The father and daughter made it to shore but the US Coast Guard couldn’t find the boy via helicopter (pictured right)

Both the father and daughter were unconscious at the scene, south of Arch Cape, and they were transported to Providence Seaside Hospital. The girl later died

‘We’ve exhausted our resources,’ regional Coast Guard spokesman, Petty Officer Steve Strohmaier, said. ‘We’re obviously hoping for the best, but at this point it’s very challenging.’

Police said the girl was pronounced deceased at PSH. 

Stiles, of Portland, was still in hospital Sunday and his condition was unknown but he is expected to survive, KGW reported. 

Weather advisories have warned locals not to turn their backs to the ocean.

A high surf warning was in place until 8pm Saturday for North Oregon Coast, Central Oregon Coast, and South Washington Coast.

‘Destructive waves may wash over beaches, jetties, and other structures unexpectedly,’ the National Weather Service warned. ‘People can be swept off rocks and jetties and drown while observing the high surf.’

Manzanita Police Department requested no media interviews on Sunday. 

Videos from some of the reported hundreds of people who gathered on Cannon Beach Saturday afternoon showed the massive waves crashing into the shore