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Man presumed dead in fall after trying to leap across Devil’s Churn chasm

YACHATS, Ore. — A California man is presumed dead after attempting to jump across the treacherous Devil’s Churn inlet along Oregon’s coast.

Steve Allen, 67, of Walnut Creek, California, tried to jump over the narrow chasm known for its extreme currents at around 2 p.m. Thursday, according to a statement issued by Oregon State Police.

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Troopers originally responded to a call that a man had fallen into the ocean and later learned Allen had jumped, NBC News reported.

According to police, Allen was last seen “unresponsive” in the water by rescue crews who lost sight of the body, the network reported.

The U. S. Coast Guard and other responding agencies suspended their search at approximately 6:40 p.m., officials said.

Bystanders attempting to rescue Allen managed to secure him briefly on a makeshift line and then a life ring for about 15 minutes before “the cold surf and an apparent head injury swept him away,” Yachats News reported.

According to witnesses, Allen and his wife were on the rocks near the inlet’s east end, and he tried jumping from the south side to the north side, the newspaper reported.

“It looks like you can jump across, but the other side is steep and slick. He just missed his footing and fell back into the water,” witness Andy Nelson of Portland told the outlet.