A 6-year-old child died and his uncle is missing and presumed drowned after the two were swept out to sea near Simpson Beach, south of Coos Bay on Saturday afternoon.

Search crews from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Charleston Rural Fire Protection District ended a four-hour-long search Saturday for Roy Tyler, 39, of Coos Bay. His body had not been found as of this morning.

The boy has been identified as Craig Leone of Coos Bay.

The search ended at about 6:50 p.m. after rescuers scoured the area by foot, boat and helicopter for hours, a Coast Guard press release said.

According to the Saturday press release, at about 2:40 p.m., a Good Samaritan notified Coast Guard Group North Bend of two people in the water. About 18 volunteers and staff from Charleston Fire responded to the call. 

Witnesses said the two were standing on rocks and were hit by a knee-high wave that swept them off their feet, said Coos County sheriff's Cpl. Jeff Grant.

Someone had pulled the 6-year-old boy from the water by the time they arrived. He was alive but unresponsive, the press release said. Firefighters searched for the man, said Assistant Chief Dave MacManiman.

An HH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter crew from North Bend airlifted the boy from the beach to an awaiting ambulance at Shore Acres State Park. He was taken to Bay Area Hospital. He died while being transported, Grant said.

The agency is reminding people that the Pacific Northwest coast shorelines are extremely dangerous during this time of year. Check your local weather and tide information before heading to the beach. Be aware that sneaker waves can appear without warning, often surging high up on the beach with deadly force and are impossible to predict.