Man plunges into ‘bottomless’ ocean sinkhole and drowns, Oregon rescuers say

A man died after falling into a “seemingly bottomless” ocean sinkhole, Oregon rescuers reported.

Rescuers responded to reports a man had fallen into Thor’s Well and appeared to be drowning just after 3:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15, the Yachats Rural Fire Protection District said in a news release.

Thor’s Well is a natural sinkhole in the ocean near Yachats, the city website said.

“Also known as the drainpipe of the Pacific, the well is actually a hole in the rock that only appears to drain water from the ocean,” the city said.

The sinkhole probably began as a cave whose roof later caved in, the city said. The hole, which appears bottomless, is “extremely dangerous,” officials said.

Bystanders initially had conflicting reports about whether the man was still in the sinkhole or had been swept out to sea, firefighters said.

A U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer lowered from a helicopter recovered his body from the hole, firefighters said.

It’s not clear how the man fell into the hole, but a bystander reported he had been getting “too close” to the edge, firefighters said.

Rescue swimmer Tyler Gantt, who was lowered into the hole, told the Lincoln Chronicle that people should be wary of it.

“It’s a hole in a rock,” Gantt told the publication. “It’s not worth risking your life to peer over the edge and take a look inside. There’s nothing in it.”

Yachats is about a 155-mile drive southwest from Portland.

This story was originally published September 17, 2025 at 9:33 AM with the headline "Man plunges into ‘bottomless’ ocean sinkhole and drowns, Oregon rescuers say."