Girl Orphaned After Parents Swept Away In Oregon Coastal Waters

DEPOE BAY, OR — A 10-year-old Lake Oswego girl was orphaned this weekend when both her parents drowned on the Oregon Coast. The girl is reportedly in foster care until authorities can place her with her family, which apparently lives in China.

Lake Oswego residents Miaochan Chen, 49, and Wenjun Zhu, 41, were visiting the coast with their daughter this weekend when the trio decided to picnic off Highway 101, along Otter Crest Loop, south of Depoe Bay. Recently emigrated from China, the family had only been in Oregon since July.

While there, Chen, Zhu, and their daughter walked a trail down to the ocean, where they stood along some rocks and watched the waves. Sometime before 5:30 p.m. Sept. 9, a wave washed over the rocks and pulled Chen and Zhu into the water; their daughter was unharmed.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter was deployed from about 10 miles south in Newport and a 47-foot boat was sent from Depoe Bay to search for the pair, while Oregon State Police and Depoe Bay firefighters tended to the girl at the scene.

Chen and Zhu were found unresponsive in the water about an hour later.

The girl's family was notified of the situation with help from the Chinese Consulate, OSP officials said. The girl will stay with the Lincoln County Department of Human Services until arrangements can be made for her placement.

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Image via Oregon State Police