Woman swept into ocean at Siletz Bay; body recovered after two-hour search
Caroline Moses, 43, died after being swept into the ocean by a large wave at Siletz Bay on the Oregon coast on Sunday, October 20, 2025. Local authorities say she was pulled into the water and lost despite immediate search efforts.
What happened
North Lincoln Fire & Rescue and other first responders were called to Siletz Bay after witnesses reported a person swept into the surf. Crews searched for roughly two hours before recovering Moses’ body about four miles south of the incident site, according to official statements.
Cody Heidt of North Lincoln Fire & Rescue provided updates to media during the response. Authorities treated the event as a tragic sneaker-wave drowning during a period of unusually large tides and surf along the central Oregon coast.
Video showing the conditions
Below is footage from the Tillamook Coast Instagram account that captures the size and power of the waves on the coast around the same time. The clip helps explain how quickly sneaker waves and king-tide conditions can become deadly.
Context — sneaker waves and king tides
State and federal agencies had issued warnings for unusually large surf and king tides along the Oregon coast at the time of the incident. Sneaker waves are unusually large, unexpected waves that can surge far up beach faces and tidal areas, knock people off their feet, and sweep them into heavy surf. The National Weather Service and Oregon State Parks regularly warn visitors to stay off rocks and avoid low-lying coastal areas during these events.
Rescue challenges
Rescuing someone swept into surf on the Oregon coast is hazardous: cold water, strong rip currents, and large, unpredictable waves complicate operations. North Lincoln Fire & Rescue and other local agencies responded quickly but faced these exact challenges during the search for Moses.
