Ocean Shores Police Officer Drowned In Surf

OCEAN SHORES, Grays Harbor County - The death of an Ocean Shores police officer during the rescue of a surfer was due to drowning, Grays Harbor Deputy Coroner Ed Fleming said yesterday.

Fellow police officers had speculated Lt. James L. Davis, 41, a veteran of surf rescues, suffered a heart attack or was fatally injured after his small motorized craft overturned in heavy waves.

"There was no heart attack or undue injuries or anything of that nature," Fleming said.

Four officers from the Ocean Shores Police Department's Surf Rescue Team, aboard two small watercraft, were thrown into the water while trying to aid a surfer in distress Sunday afternoon.

A Coast Guard helicopter from Astoria, Ore., and a Coast Guard motor surf boat from Grays Harbor picked up the surfer and the four rescuers.

Davis was attached to a line from the helicopter by a Coast Guard rescuer, lifted out of the water and taken to the beach.

Fleming said the last time anyone saw movement from Davis was when he was picked up by the helicopter.

Efforts to resuscitate him on the beach failed.