Tourists seeking photos on remote Oregon beach get trapped by tides, spell ‘SOS’ with driftwood

A group of tourists looking for a photo opportunity ended up stranded on a secluded beach in Tillamook, Ore.Netarts-Oceanside Fire DistrictShareAdd NBC News to GoogleSept. 21, 2026, 4:58 PM EDTBy Doha MadaniA group of tourists looking for a photo opportunity ended up stranded on a secluded beach in Tillamook, Oregon, after the tide blocked their way out, officials said Monday.

Volunteer firefighters and rescue teams responded to a 911 call about three people stranded on Lost Boy Beach on Wednesday afternoon, according to Netarts-Oceanside Fire District Chief Jeff McBrayer. Officials were concerned that the the tourists would be at risk for hypothermia due to the winds and temperature.

“Typically, we would wait until low tide, but that would have been late at night,” McBrayer told NBC News. “Our water rescue team used a rope system to access the victims, placed them in life vests and assisted them through the surf to safety.”

Volunteer firefighters and rescue teams responded to a 911 call about three people stranded on Lost Boy Beach Wednesday afternoon, according to Netarts-Oceanside Fire District Chief Jeff McBrayer.Netarts-Oceanside Fire DistrictMcBrayer did not identify the individuals but described them as “two males, one female” in their 20s. They were evaluated for injuries, but McBrayer said they only had “minor scrapes and bumps.”

Photos of the rescue posted to the Netarts-Oceanside Fire District’s Facebook page showed that the group wrote “SOS” on the beach out of what appears to be driftwood.

Lost Boy Beach is a remote area only accessible by crossing a sea cave or climbing down rough rocks, according to the Oregonian. An incoming tide can prevent anyone on the beach from leaving, the newspaper reported.

The tourists told authorities they were out on the beach seeking a photo opportunity, McBrayer said. He noted that his office has seen an uptick in visitors seeking to make videos to post on social media platforms like TikTok, but he does not know if that is related. He urged that tourists should be aware of the dangerous cliff sides in the area while they are visiting.

Lost Boy Beach is a remote area only accessible by crossing a sea cave or climbing down rough rocks, according to the Oregonian. Netarts-Oceanside Fire DistrictMcBrayer also warned that the region is expecting higher tides in the months to come given that this is an El Niño year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned in May that El Niño, a climate pattern that brings warmer temperatures to the Pacific Ocean, could come with higher tides and coastal flooding in the fall and winter.

“We would encourage all visitors to utilize a tide app on their phones and talk to locals before trying to access dangerous areas on the coast,” McBrayer said.

Doha MadaniI am a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital, covering a range of news-of-the-day topics. My job is to report in a timely manner on crime, mass shootings, war coverage, domestic and international affairs, pop culture and more.