22 April 2014
Rolling Log in Surf Kills Eugene Man
What started as a pleasant Sunday afternoon at the beach turned deadly. A Eugene man was killed when a log, floated by a high wave, rolled over him as he was trying to help an elderly woman who had been knocked off a log by a wave.
58-year old Ming Hsieh and family members were relaxing on the beach late Sunday afternoon near North Jetty when the wave ran up the beach, rolling the log that he had been leaning on. He and his daughter were knocked away from the log, but Hsieh was trying to help the elderly woman when the log, carried by the receding wave, rolled over him.
An off duty Eugene firefighter was able to get Hsieh, who was not breathing, to a safe location and performed CPR.
He was transported to Peace Harbor Medical Center where he died a short time later.
Beach Safety Can’t Be Overlooked
The Eugene man who died Sunday evening on the beach near the North Jetty was the first fatality related to rolling driftwood in Oregon since 2003. That’s according to Oregon Parks and Recreation
Department Beach Safety Coordinator Robert Smith.
The range between high and low tides this week, coupled with the heavy pounding surf can look peaceful, but can actually be very dangerous.
Robert Smith – “We’re getting some very very large waves out there, 17 to 20 feet, and those large waves mixed with logs are a very dangerous combination.”
The 40-foot log that rolled over 58-year old Ming Hsieh, killing him likely weighed as much as seven or eight thousand pounds; a mere plaything for the waves.
Robert Smith – “Four inches of water will move a five ton log and if you happen to be anywhere near it, standing on it, or near it, it can roll over and crush you. It can spin around knock you down, a lot of different things can happen.”
Smith said vigilance at the beach is always important and visitors need to be aware of several things like, just when high tide is, and how close they are to driftwood.
Fireworks Fundraising the Focus in Florence
Normally this time of year, Cal Applebee would be focused almost entirely on the upcoming Rhododendron Festival. But, says the Florence Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, he’s always looking ahead.
This week, he’s planning and preparing for the Fourth of July.
Cal Applebee – “This is the same fireworks show pretty much that we’ve done for the last several years. We’ve been at about the $9-thousand level and they’ve done a really good job on tailoring the display down to what our budget has been every year, so we’re expecting a really good display again this year.”
One major difference, that hopefully visitors won’t notice, will be the location from which the show will be based.
Cal Applebee – “There is no barge so the Port has worked out with the Coast Guard, the Western Display fireworks team, as well as the Fire Department, that we can shoot the display off from the dredging spoils on the east end of the Port’s property.”
Applebee says they’re beginning fund raising efforts to help offset the cost of the show. Donations from businesses and individuals are being sought… anywhere from five dollars to 500 dollars. He said they can be dropped off at the Chamber Visitor Center on Highway 101.
