Oregon: California Hiker Found Dead in Cape Kiwanda

A 25-year-old California hiker fell from a cliff and was washed away into the ocean over the weekend, according to Oregon authorities.

The hiker from West Covina, California, Henry Minh Hoang, tripped and fell roughly 20 feet to the water's edge while hiking in an area known as "the punch bowl" in the Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area, according to a news release from the Oregon State Police.

"The victim was reportedly knocked unconscious from the fall and was swept into the ocean by the waves," state police said, adding that the rescue operation has turned into a recovery operation after witnesses lost sight of the victim.

Police from the state came out Saturday afternoon to assist in the search for the missing person, CNN noted.

However, the search and rescue operations were put on hold until Sunday morning, when searchers could safely restart their efforts, according to state police.

Hoang's body was brought to a local funeral home after he was discovered dead on the beach at the base of a neighboring cliff late on Sunday afternoon, according to officials.

The state police's hunt for Hoang was aided by the Nestucca Fire Department and the US Coast Guard, according to a press release on Monday.

Cape Kiwanda Officials Warn Visitors About Sandstone

Visitors to Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area in Oregon can get "one of the best viewpoints on the coast for witnessing the ocean's power" by ascending a "steep" and "towering" dune, as stated on the organization's website.

Due to safety concerns, visitors are also asked to respect the perimeter barrier.

Park officials warn that people have died after going over the safety railings because "the cliff edge can - and will - crumble without warning."

"Don't do it. The views are spectacular from the established viewpoints, on the safe side of the fence," the page warns.

Oregon Coast's Deadliest Spot Has Taken Several Lives

Cape Kiwanda, where the California hiker died, has been considered the most dangerous part of the Oregon coast for many years.

The park's unstable sandstone cliffs were responsible for the deaths of seven people, mostly teens, between 2009 and 2016.

At least eleven individuals died in Cape Kiwanda between 1960 and 1972. Several deaths occurred there again in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, as previously reported by the Statesman Journal, which is part of the USA TODAY Network.

The sandstone cliffs in the park are notoriously dangerous because of the prevalence of waves and falling rock.

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has tried several different methods, including several iterations of a safety fence, to keep visitors out of the Cape's riskiest spots.

The fence, however, was routinely disregarded during the 2014-2016 death toll.

A ranger was once stationed to deter individuals from stepping over the fence, according to park officials.

They modified the fence's design in May 2021, enabling visitors to enjoy some more excellent views while trying to keep out regions like the "punchbowl," which has frequently been the scene of terrible events.

"We want visitors to enjoy better views without being tempted to cross a fence," said park manager Jason Elkins per Statesman Journal.

After public hearings and a report investigating the root of so many incidents in Cape Kiwanda, the plan was finally authorized in 2016.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Hiker dies after falling at Cape Kiwanda, being swept into ocean - From KOIN 6