In early July, 14-year old surfer Cole Ortega lost his left arm while surfing off the Oregon coast during a collision with a dory trying to land on the beach at Pacific City (a beach community in Oregon). Dories are flat-bottom motorized boats, about 20-feet long, that launch from and return to the beach.
Fortunately, surgeons were able to reattach Ortega’s arm during emergency surgery after the accident, although the boy won’t know for months how much use of the arm he will regain.
It was recently reported that the operator of the dory involved in the accident won’t face criminal charges. After reviewing the case, Tillamook County District Attorney Bill Porter says no crime was committed.
