Tourists visiting Oregon’s Lost Boy Beach found themselves in the midst of a dramatic rescue when rising tides trapped them at this secluded spot. On September 16, three individuals became stranded for five hours as the water cut off their exit route at the Tillamook County cove.

Without cell service, they managed to call 911 using an emergency satellite feature, according to The Oregonian. Responders from the Netarts-Oceanside Fire District discovered the group using a drone, capturing images of them spelling ‘SOS’ with sticks.

“When people are stranded there, we may not be able to get to them,” said NOFD Chief Jeff McBrayer.

Lost Boy Beach is accessible by scrambling over rocks and through a sea cave open at both ends. Low tide offers a momentary entrance, but rising tides quickly block escape. Rescue teams chose an immediate intervention due to challenging surf conditions and the tourists’ wet and cold state.

Rescuers, secured by ropes, navigated the dangerous tides to reach the group. They provided life vests and guided them to safety. The visitors emerged with only minor injuries. Chief McBrayer stresses the importance of consulting locals or tide apps for safe exploration.

Drone footage highlighted the isolation that left them reliant on an emergency signal. Lost Boy Beach, located south of a large cliff on Oregon’s coast, carries a name steeped in a century-old story of a boy who drowned when trapped by tides. Although unverified, the cautionary tale persists.

Reaching this beach has always been perilous, wedged between Short Beach and Tunnel Beach. Unlike Short Beach, which added stairs for safer access, Lost Boy Beach remains difficult and unsafe, accessible only during rare extreme low tides.