Kelly Bennett Smith was 26 when a day at the Oregon coast ended in tragedy on April 15, 2016. Visiting Depoe Bay with five friends, he and the group stopped at the Rock Creek scenic viewpoint. While walking out on the rocks to take photographs, Kelly was struck from behind by a sneaker wave and swept into the Pacific Ocean.

Friends and emergency responders saw him in the water for about seven minutes before he disappeared beneath the surface. The Depoe Bay Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard conducted an immediate search by lifeboat and helicopter that continued into the afternoon and resumed at first light the next morning, but no rescue was possible and the active search was suspended.

Partial remains were later recovered near Depoe Bay, a confirmation of his fate; the investigation remains open until all remains are found and returned to his family. If anyone was at Rock Creek that afternoon or has information about the shoreline that day, please share what is known.