By GARRET JAROS/YachatsNews
YACHATS — A Florida man was rescued relatively unscathed from Devils Churn on Tuesday after tripping while taking a photo and falling about 15 feet into the ocean.
Jack Turnock, 70, was was on the south side of the chasm taking a photo when he tripped and tumbled into the ocean shortly before 1 p.m. He managed to swim to the north side and scramble onto a ledge several feet above the water line where he waited for Yachats Rural Fire Protection District firefighters to arrive.
Yachats firefighters Shelby Knife and Nick Sherman walked around the east end of the churn and along a goat-path of a trail that clings to the steep hillside on the north before lowering a rope to secure Turnock while they awaited a crew from Central Oregon Coast Fire & Rescue to arrive with an extension ladder. When they called to him to ask if he was hurt, he replied “only my dignity.”
Turnock’s girlfriend, Deborah See of Santa Cruz, said she was still coming down the path from the parking lot when he fell into the water.
“We wanted to take some pictures so we came down here,” See said. “I was still up there so I didn’t actually see him fall in but I heard the splash. And I heard somebody say ‘Oh my God, somebody fell in,’ and I looked over and I didn’t see him and I went ‘Oh shit.’”
She was unable to get cell service but another visitor did and dialed 9-1-1.
By the time firefighters arrived, which was “very quickly,” See said, Turnock had managed to scramble up onto the only ledge he could find, which still left him stranded between the incoming tide and sheer section of slippery cliff above.
“He’s a tough bird,” See said as firefighters bridged the chasm with an extension ladder and then climbed across on hands and knees before pulling the ladder across and lowering it to Turnock. “He’s in good shape for his age and he’s a runner. I’m just so glad he’s okay.”
Turnock stood braced on the rock below, his camera still secured around his neck and blood on his shins, as a firefighter descended the ladder and then braced its base while Turnock climbed to safety.
“Hey honey I’m home!” Turnock said when he arrived back on the south side of the churn and embraced See.
“I wasn’t even near the edge,” Turnock told YachatsNews. “I just tripped over a rock and I went that direction. I was looking that way (inland) to take a photo and I just kind of fell back the other way and rolled off the edge.
“And my first thought falling down was I hope there aren’t rocks under here, under the water. That was it. Then I was like ‘Ah … I just ruined my camera.’ Then I just looked around and saw a ledge and swam over there.”
Besides his dignity being hurt, he said his legs were a little bloody and sore.
Turnock and See were camping at Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park south of Florence with friends and family. They decided to drive up the coast Tuesday to explore tide pools and take photographs.
Yachats Fire assistant administrator Shelby Knife, who led the rescue, attributed it to “great assistance from our fellow departments.”
“We had him secured fairly quickly and were able to get him up the ladder,” Knife said.
In addition to Yachats and Central Coast firefighters, the Seal Rock Fire District and the Lincoln County Rope Team also responded.
A low tide and calm seas also attributed to a good outcome. That was not the case in September 2021 when a 67-year-old California man attempted to jump across a narrow section of the churn’s chasm only to slip and hit his head before falling into the ocean and later drowning after succumbing to the cold water.
“Be careful,” Knife warned. “He’s (Turnock) one of the few people we’ve ever pulled out of here alive.”
- Garret Jaros is YachatsNews’ full-time reporter and can be reached at GJaros@YachatsNews.com
I am not saying it is the case here, but I personally have witnessed a lot of dumb behavior by visitors to both Devils Churn and Thor’s Well. People get way too close to the edge and fail to recognize that big waves might catch them and carry them away. I think there’s just way too little respect for the sea among many visitors.
Once again, a hearty thanks to our local and area rescue teams – as we all know, this could have gone very badly, and because of our emergency teams (and because of the plucky attitude of Mr. Turnock himself), we have a happy outcome.
The Churn is gorgeous and beautiful, and also powerful in potentially dangerous ways. I hope these stories spread far and wide among tourists, so that they exercise great caution. Mr Turnock’s situation was a true fluke, but oddball accidents do happen. As the old cop show used to advise, “stay safe out there!”
Great outcome. Mr.Turnock’s attitude is positive to be sure. Kudos to the excellent work of Yachats Rural Fire Protection District firefighters and those with Central Coast firefighters, the Seal Rock Fire District and the Lincoln County Rope Team for responding and collaborating so quickly.
A nice ending thanks to the local emergency responders. Too bad Devils Churn and other nearby natural attractions are not within the city limits so they too could be “enhanced” with delineators, boardwalks and more signage to provide closer viewing and protect the public.
More delineators, boardwalks and signs are not viewed as “enhancements” by everybody.
My apologies Ed. My sarcastic “shot” at the city was a bit too subtle. The comparison was intended to promote thought about maintaining the rustic natural aesthetic of Yachats, without the clutter, that is what sets us apart as a destination.
Thank you to the rescuers. You have a dangerous job. I am so happy everyone is ok.
I just want to thank Mr. Jaros for the informative article and the most comprehensive series of photos I’ve ever seen from a local new source. You did good work.
Of course, glad the man is safe and applaud rescuers’ efforts. But no matter how many warnings/signage/examples we put out there, too many people don’t listen or feel they know best. Use of our valuable resources in responders’ time and efforts should not be squandered.
I personally want to thank the EMTs who showed up to pull me up off the ledge. They were very professional and obviously very interested in my safety and well-being.
In response to comments implying I was careless or even foolish, I’m actually afraid of heights and I was about five feet from the edge when I tripped over the rough rocks. The ground at that spot was a downhill incline and I slid that direction off the cliff.
Anyway, I’m sore everywhere but alive and happy. Thanks again to all the guys who came out and got me off of that ledge. Although when I asked one of the guys to get between me and my girlfriend because I thought she was going to smack me, he said, “We don’t do that.” Lol.
Well said, Jack. Glad you are safe. Blessings.