NEAR NESKOWIN, Ore. - The Coast Guard was unable to rescue a 22-year-old woman who fell off a cliff and was swept out to sea Saturday on the Oregon Coast.

It happened about 3:30 p.m. near Neskowin Beach, which is located between Tillamook and Lincoln City.

Authorities did not identify the woman, and it was unclear why she fell off the cliff.

Coast Guard Station Depoe Bay was unable to respond due to dangerous water conditions, officials said. Then a Coast Guard helicopter crew from Astoria had to turn back after being repeatedly struck by birds.

A second Coast Guard helicopter crew was able to reach the area but had to turn back after 15 minutes due to dangerous weather, which included 20-feet seas and no visibility.

"The crew couldn't see the water below them," said Robert Coster, a Coast Guard search and rescue controller at Air Station Astoria. "They tried to wait out the weather, but things only got worse."