Henry Minh Hoang: California hiker found dead after he falls 20ft from cliff and gets swept into ocean
PACIFIC CITY, OREGON: Henry Minh Hoang, a tourist, died after hiking a cliff and falling 20 feet into the water, where he was rendered unconscious and unable to swim to safety on Saturday, March 4. The Oregon State Police confirmed Hoang, 25, died while hiking in Oregon's Cape Kiwanda State Natural Reserve, which is close to Portland.
It was revealed that Hoang was "knocked unconscious" after stumbling on a rock and falling 20 feet into the ocean, as per a police press release. They revealed that Hoang had disregarded the park's warning signs and fallen into the cliff's "punch bowl" region. The police also claim that there were spectators who witnessed the tragedy but were unable to assist. State Police stated, "The victim was reportedly knocked unconscious from the fall and was swept into the ocean by the waves. Witnesses lost sight of the victim and the rescue operation later transitioned into a likely recovery operation," according to The Sun.
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Hoang's death marked the 'punch bowl' region's eighth tragic incident
When a rescue crew arrived at the scene at 5 pm on Saturday, March 4, they had to postpone the rescue operation until the next morning in order to protect themselves from risk. The next day, at about 4.30 pm, Hoang's body was discovered at the base of a cliff.
The body of Hoang, a resident of West Covina, California, was transported to a nearby funeral home. Hoang's death marked the eighth tragic accident in the popular region of 'the punch bowl' since 2009, according to Statesman Journal.
Is it safe to travel to Cape Kiwanda State Natural Reserve?
Cape Kiwanda State Natural Reserve is renowned for its panoramic ocean views and is reputed to be one of the most perilous locations on the Oregon Coast. Many people have reportedly died after falling through safety rails, and the vast sandstone cliffs are prone to crumbling at any time.
The park's website cautions as it states, "Beyond the fence, the cliff edge can — and will — crumble without warning. It's dangerous, and people have died after climbing over the safety fences. Don’t do it." Seven people died after falling or getting stranded on the park's sandstone cliffs between 2009 and 2016, according to Statesman Journal.
The report also mentioned that the reserve had a lot of fatalities in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, with 11 deaths occurring there between 1960 and 1972. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Service has made efforts to prevent tourists from the most dangerous areas of the well-known location, including installing a safety fence.
