November 25, 2025 3:40 a.m.  

Covering coastal Douglas County:

A Marine deputy with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office assisted with a water rescue on Saturday.

A DCSO report released on Monday said shortly after 11:00 a.m. dispatch advised of a water rescue call on Tahkenitch Lake near the Tahkenitch campground and boat ramp. This is in the Oregon Dunes Recreation Area, north of Reedsport. Dispatchers said that three people were in a boat when it overturned, but only two were wearing life jackets.

The deputy arrived at 11:15 a.m. as two women, later determined to each be 22-years old and from Winston, had just made it to the shore. The deputy observed the male, later determined to be 39-years old, and also from Winston, floating in the water approximately 30 yards from the nearest dock. There were no other boats in the area to flag down. The deputy located a plastic pedal boat overturned on a nearby dock. Gardiner Fire Department crews assisted in overturning the boat and getting it into the water. The deputy paddled out towards the man and looped his safety rope across his arms and neck. He was towed back close to the dock where fire department staff was able to finish pulling him in.

All three people were cleared by medical crews. Boaters showing up at the ramp helped gather the floating debris and tow the boat that had overturned, back to shore.