It took a few days to sort through the reports and conduct in-person interviews.
Matt (on the left) is a Cape Lookout State Park Ranger, and a Volunteer Firefighter with Rockaway Beach Fire & Rescue.
Justin (on the right) is a Cape Lookout State Park Ranger, and a Volunteer Firefighter with Netarts-Oceanside Fire District.
Matt and Justin were driving the pictured ‘side by side’ ATV on the beach during the search. Because of the initial search grids (based on the time the child was reported missing), no units had searched the end of Netarts Bay Spit. Matt and Justin had been told we would be coming back to the command post to transition to night search. The temperature was dropping quickly; and the co-workers agreed that if they did not search to the end of the Spit, it would bother them forever. As they traveled the last mile of the Spit, Matt caught glimpse of a child standing in the beach grass. When Justin and Matt made their way to the child, she was shivering heavily and was obviously frightened. Both Rangers pointed to their badges as a way to hopefully communicate safety to the victim. Justin removed his coat and wrapped it around the little girl, then carried her to the ATV. Matt drove quickly but carefully to the nearest Sherrif’s Department vehicle and reported the rescue. Command was notified, and a long line of emergency vehicles began making their way to the ambulance staging area. The child was transferred to the waiting Tillamook Ambulance Paramedic crew for immediate care, then transported to the hospital.
Every searcher, every rescuer, every dispatcher, every Coast Guard crew member, every support member was critical to this search and rescue mission. An incredible number of miles of open ocean, beach, campground area and mountain trails were searched. We wanted to recognize Matt and Justin for listening to their gut, and literally going the extra mile – the last mile. Every searcher, every rescuer, was doing the same in their search grid…. Thank you all…. Words cannot express our appreciation and pride in the amazing team that formed to find this child. God Bless you all.
As Paul Harvey used to say, “and now you know the rest of the story”.
Netarts-Oceanside Fire District; Rockaway Beach Fire & Rescue; U.S. Coast Guard Station Tillamook Bay; U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Astoria; Oregon State Police; Oregon State Parks; Tillamook County Sheriff’s Office; Tillamook County Emergency Communications District – Tillamook 911; Tillamook County Search & Rescue
