Police Identify Missing Fisherman Off Oregon Coast

The man who fell overboard was wearing yellow rain gear but was not wearing a life jacket

22-year old Andrew Jay Jessup Herbert-Hopper of Tangent Photo source: DMV files

(TILLAMOOK, Ore.) - Oregon State Police has taken a missing person report related to a fisherman who reportedly fell overboard in the Pacific Ocean Friday morning five miles northwest of the Siuslaw River. The Coast Guard suspended their day-long search Friday evening. The missing man is identified as 22-year old Andrew Jay Jessup Herbert-Hopper of Tangent. A trooper assigned to the Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife Division took the report Friday at approximately 9:30 PM after the 75-foot fishing vessel Zora Belle arrived in port. Interviews with the boat's crew members was consistent with previous reports provided by the Coast Guard.

According to a Coast Guard, Coast Guard Group North Bend received a mayday call at 7:20 AM from the 75-foot fishing vessel Zora Belle that one of their crew members had fallen overboard and was believed to be unconscious.

Coast Guard Air Station North Bend and Coast Guard Air Facility Newport both launched HH-65C Dolphin helicopter crews to the scene along with two 47-foot motor lifeboat crews from Coast Guard Station Siuslaw River. Helicopter crews were on scene in 25 minutes.

The man who fell overboard was wearing yellow rain gear but was not wearing a life jacket.

Weather conditions on scene were 20 to 25 knot winds combined with 13-foot seas and 10 mile visibility. The water in the area was 50 degrees.

The decision to suspend the search was made after rescuers from Station Siuslaw River and Air Station North Bend searched a 100 square mile area for over eight hours. Expected survivability in these conditions is approximately four and a half hours.

Initial reports indicate that the victim was not wearing a life jacket at the time he fell overboard. Falls overboard are a primary cause of fatalities in the fishing industry according to Coast Guard marine casualty statistics. Wearing a life jacket dramatically improves survivability of man overboard accidents.