Mother and father swept out to sea as daughter watches

OREGON STATE POLICE

A mother and father were knocked off the rocks below near Depoe Bay, Oregon and swept out to sea.

A 10-YEAR OLD GIRL watched in horror as her parents were swept out to sea.

The family had immigrated from China to Oregon last July and were were picnicking off the Oregon coast Sunday (Sept. 9) with another couple when the tragedy occurred.

Investigators said Miaochan Chen, 49, and Wenjun Zhu, 41, were picnicking on the Oregon Coast with their 10-year-old daughter when they decided to follow a trail down to the rocks that overlook the ocean. A wave crashed over the rocks and swept Chen and Zhu into the ocean, officials said.

Their daughter, Lake Oswego Junior High sixth-grader Emily Chen, was unharmed.

The United State Coast launched a helicopter from Newport and a 47 ft motor life boat from Depoe Bay. While The Oregon State Police and Depoe Bay Fire and Rescue responded to the scene. Chen and Zhu’s bodies were located, both unresponsive, at approximately 6:30 p.m. and helicoptered from the ocean to a landing zone at Rocky Creek State Park, said Oregon state police.

Life saving measures were attempted for both Chen and Zhu as they were transported, via ambulance, to Pacific Communities Hospital. Chen and Zhu succumbed to their injuries and pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Family members were notified with the help of the Chinese Consulate and the Lake Oswego Police Department. The Department of Human Services placed the daughter into a foster home and said it will work to find her a permanent home, possibly with a Chinese couple who were friends of the girl's parents and who also recently moved to the U.S.

Kevin Mills, principal of Emily's school near Portland, met with the staff Monday and alerted the school community in an email, saying a crisis response team would be deployed to the school "to speak with students and teachers who need additional support.".

DHS and other governmental agencies have been in constant communication with the school district, according to LOSD Communications Director Christine Moses, and "the student is being more than properly cared for at this time."

"When and if the student returns to regular attendance," Moses said Tuesday, "the LOSD and all of its staff will welcome the student back with ... a safe learning environment to ensure her future success and emotional and academic growth."

For those looking for a way to help, a GoFundMe account has been set up by the LOJ Parent Club. Find it at www.gofundme.com/help-for-emily-chen.

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