Hunter killed on coast when tree falls on tent
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A storm pounding the Oregon coast has taken the life of an elk hunter near Nehalem.
Chief Perry Sherbaugh of Nehalem Bay Fire and Rescue says a fir tree crashed on the hunter's tent Monday morning, killing him instantly.
Sherbaugh says two hunters in an adjacent camp heard the tree snap and saw it lying across the tent. They cut it away in an attempt to rescue the man, to no avail.
Sheriff Andy Long of Tillamook County identified the hunter as 52-year-old Nathan Christensen of Seattle.
Wind gusts of more than 70 mph have been reported along the coast. Toppled trees have caused sporadic road closures and power outages. One fell on a Seaside fire truck.
Forecasters say rainfall in the higher elevations should total 4 to 7 inches.
My condolences to Nathan's family. We live very close to the area, this tragedy has been the talk of the town unfortunately.
Possible that he had been out there for several days or a week and didn't know that this storm was forecasted. I don't think they were talking about this wind until just a few days ago. Condolences to the family and friends, RIP guy.
Several suspicious looking deer were spotted leaving the scene. . . . .
 @Scruffy Scirocco Too soon! :P
At least it was fast, and he died doing what he loved. what more can you say? The forecast alone would have driven me to seek shelter, but I guess I'm not as tough. My condolences to his family and friends.
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 @HarryJuku Can you be any more insensitive and uncaring?
 @HarryJuku Not everyone's a metrosexual.
Storms like these are dangerous times to be out in the woods. It would have been better for his family had he taken heed of his friends and departed. However when you are hunting and doing what you love, you don't want to give up the opportunity. In actuality, the odds of being injured are probably similar to being struck by lightning, and many hunters know that.  Condolences to the family for this untimely loss.
"Storms like these are dangerous times to be out in the woods" Roger that. I was a kid in the bush in British Columbia the day the October Storm passed through (Yes. It hit Canada too!) A guide and I were on horse back hunting for moose. The wind was ferocious, but quite a bit less in the trees than in the open. To my amazement, the guide took us out into the middle of a meadow to hunker down. His wisdom became apparent as soon as the trees started coming down. It took us 4 hours to ride back the 3 miles to the ranch house because the blowdowns had obliterated the trail. Had we taken "shelter" back in the trees, the blowdowns would likely have obliterated us.
 @Brownknight
"In actuality, the odds of being injured are probably similar to being struck by lightning, and many hunters know that.  Condolences to the family for this untimely loss."
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But even the odds of being struck by lightning become far more likely when you go outside on the roof of a tall building holding a 20 foot metal pole during an electrical storm.
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Camping in the woods underneath the trees during a major Oregon Coast wind and rain storm...the odds of getting hurt are not as slim as your comment supposes. Too bad this hunter didn't heed Mother Nature's warnings and get the heck out of there!
Very sad... I hope the man didn't suffer... Â Condolences go to his family and friends for their loss... Â
Not suffering would be part of "killing him instantly."
Sad and tragic. Thoughts and prayers for this man and his family.
Ouch! Condolences to the family and so close to the holidays, so sad.
in the end he was the one being hunted by mother nature..
This is so tragic and sad.