By Ed Diokno
Views From The Edge
A 10-year-old girl watched in horror as her parents were swept out to sea, reports FOX13.
The family had immigrated from China to the U.S. last July and 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 the three of them took a trail down to the rocks overlooking 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 Coast Guard launched a helicopter from Newport and a life boat from Depoe Bay. The Oregon State Police and Depoe Bay Fire and Rescue also 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.
Rescuers attempted life saving measures on both Chen and Zhu as they were transported via ambulance to Pacific Communities Hospital. Chen and Zhu succumbed to their injuries and were pronounced dead at the hospital.
Family members were notified of the incident with the help of the Chinese Consulate and the Lake Oswego Police Department. Human services has placed the daughter into a foster home and is planning 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., according to the Pamplin Media Group.
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.”
Governmental agencies have been in contact 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, 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,” Moses said Tuesday.
For those looking for a way to help Emily Chen, a GoFundMe account has been set up. Find it at www.gofundme.com/help-for-emily-chen.
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