Kitesurfer Death on Central Coast, July 7

A 49 year old male died Thursday afternoon after being transported to a Lincoln City hospital following an apparent accident while kitesurfing in the ocean off the beach at Roads End State Park. The victim was identified as an off-duty member of Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVFR).  On July 3, 2014 at approximately 5:00 p.m., Oregon State Police was notified that an adult male was being taken to a hospital in Lincoln City after he was found by a friend unresponsive in the water while kitesurfing. When OSP arrived at the hospital, medical staff had pronounced him deceased after lifesaving efforts at the beach by the victim’s friend, responding fire personnel, and hospital emergency room staff.  The victim is identified as WYLIE DALE JOHNSON JR, age 49, from Dundee. According to TVFR, JOHNSON was a firefighter for 19 yrs with TVFR and, most recently, was assigned as a lieutenant at Fire Station 35 in King City.