Police believe Veneta man drowned in ocean

GOLD BEACH — A Veneta man is presumed drowned after being swept out to sea Friday, possibly in an attempt to rescue his dog, according to the Gold Beach Police Department.

Kevin Cornell “K.C.” Anton, 48, was still missing as of 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Gold Beach Police Chief Dixon Andrews said.

After U.S. Coast Guard rescue crews searched with lifeboats and helicopters Friday and Saturday, there is little chance Anton could have survived, Andrews said by cell phone Saturday.

“We’re pretty positive (Anton drowned),” he said.

Anton’s family members have been notified, Andrews said.

Searchers found the body of Anton’s dog on the coast before noon Saturday, he said.

A witness who saw a man run into the surf about 1 p.m. Friday flagged down a Curry County Sheriff’s car and told an officer that the man possibly tried to rescue his dog, lost his footing and was quickly pulled into the pounding surf.

The witness observed the man believed to be Anton being pulled out to sea in a northwesterly direction, bobbing up and down in the water a couple of times before going under, police said.

The witness described the man’s dress as a heavy coat and possibly boots. Anton’s “common-law wife” in Veneta corroborated the description, Andrews said.

Anton had apparently been camping alone on the coast with his dog, he said.

The U.S. Coast Guard responded from the North Bend Air Station with a helicopter and a motor lifeboat from Brookings. The Coast Guard was joined by the Gold Beach Police Department, Curry County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue in the search.

Andrews said search crews would head back out this morning and look some more.

Family members could not be reached for comment Saturday.

Anton’s Facebook page says he is a senior coach of Anton Coaching & Training in Veneta, working “with individuals and business to find natural, practical, answers to daily joy.” He describes himself as a writer, lecturer and trainer/doer with his own website, www.kcanton.com.

Anton’s second-to-last post on Facebook, at 11:19 a.m. Tuesday, reads:

“Winds are picking up on the morning beach walk. Still >50 miles/hr so the waves are still cleansing. Those watching think it is more insane than purifying. Isn’t that the way for independant business and spiritual people. Folks want to see and share what we do, until they gotta get in the waters of life. Life, like aging, is not for whimps or faint of heart.”