After massive swells pulled a visitor into the ocean at dusk, responders navigated violent surf to pull her from offshore rocks. The incident highlights how long-period waves can catch beachgoers off guard even during low tide.
Rocky sea stacks rise along Oregon’s southern coast, where a woman was swept into the ocean by massive waves at Secret Beach on November 8. (Photo: Juan Pablo Jim/Getty)
Updated November 11, 2026 04:05PM
A woman was rescued from the ocean after powerful waves swept her off a beach in southern Oregon on November 8, leaving her clinging to rocks offshore as darkness fell.
The woman had been walking along Secret Beach, a secluded stretch of rocky coastline roughly 20 miles north of the California border, when a swell pulled her into the ocean, according to a statement posted to Facebook by Curry County Aquatic Safety. Unable to reach her, the woman’s husband called 911 around 5:18 P.M. The report did not name the woman.
When a Curry County sheriff’s deputy arrived at the scene, the woman had been swept 200 feet down the coastline, where she was stranded on rocks roughly 50 to 70 feet offshore.
“People want to come see the waves, and we have a lot of great scenic viewpoints for them,” Luke Martinez, an aquatic safety officer and lifeguard with Curry County Aquatic Safety, told Outside. “Unfortunately, people sometimes get stuck in bad spots, and that was the case Sunday night.”
The National Weather Service had issued a high surf warning for Oregon’s southern coast that day, forecasting breaking waves of 25 to 33 feet.
A High-Stakes Rescue in the Dark
Martinez told Outside that he and fellow lifeguard Shannon Ingram responded to the emergency as large waves continued crashing onto the beach.
“It was pretty unruly,” Martinez said. “There was huge surf. The tide was out, and we couldn’t see much, but there were surges occurring up and down the beach.”
Ingram reached the shoreline ahead of Martinez just after sunset. Wearing a wetsuit and a safety helmet, she determined she could safely enter the churning water and made her way to the stranded woman. She checked her for injuries, secured her with a rescue tube, and brought her back to shore.
The woman was able to walk off the beach with assistance before being taken to a hospital for further evaluation.
“It was a good ending to something that could have been pretty bad,” Martinez said.
Rugged Cliffs, Few Lifeguards, Giant Surges
Secret Beach sits along the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, a 12-mile stretch of coastline dotted with rocky cliffs, secluded beaches, and offshore rock formations. Martinez noted that the area has surged in popularity due to social media, even though its rugged geography poses serious risks.
“We live along a really rugged coastline,” Martinez said. “It’s similar to people visiting the mountains and climbing 14ers. Not everybody realizes the dangers involved.”
Curry County Aquatic Safety has just two lifeguards—Martinez and Ingram—covering roughly 100 miles of coastline and several rivers. On November 8, they spent much of the day advising beachgoers about the unusually powerful surf, emphasizing that volatile conditions can catch people off guard before help can arrive.
“Beachgoers will be watching the smaller waves, thinking they understand how far the water is reaching up the beach,” Martinez explained. “Then that longer-period swell arrives and surges much farther up the beach than the waves they’ve been watching. During these events, our beaches can become dangerous for anybody, including experienced surfers or swimmers.”
A Pattern of Close Calls
Massive waves are a recurring hazard along the Pacific coast from October through March, when winter storms generate the largest swells, according to the state of Oregon. During major storms, offshore waves can exceed 30 feet.
Also on November 8, videos captured similar scenes elsewhere along the coast. Footage from Cannon Beach showed a young girl nearly being swept into the ocean, while another video from Winchester Bay showed two people scrambling to escape incoming waves as their dog was swept into the water. The dog was later rescued.
Another round of massive surf is expected to batter the Oregon coastline in mid-November. A National Weather Service warning projects breaking waves reaching 30 to 35 feet November 13 and 14. The agency is urging visitors to stay off beaches, rocks, jetties, and piers while the high swells continue.
