Island man dies after fall off cliff

A Greater Victoria man has died after falling off a 250-metre cliff on the Oregon coast.

Joe Lescene, 51, and his wife, Sarah Jones Lescene, were walking near a cliff known as the Devil’s Cauldron in Oswald West State Park on Sunday when Lescene lost his footing and fell down the cliff face into the water below.

His wife started screaming and other people in the park called 911.

The U.S. Coast Guard called in rescue boats and a helicopter to search for Lescene.

His backpack and one of his shoes were recovered from the water, but his body was not found.

Friend Nancy Sheppard started an online fundraiser for Sarah and her two children, Ofelia and Sofia.

“Sarah has lost her husband, soulmate and best friend,” Sheppard wrote on the fundraising page.

“Joe was an amazing husband, father and friend to so many. There is not one person that Joe met that he didn’t make smile and laugh, he brightened every room he entered and loved all his friends so dearly. Joe ‘The Man’ was truly a one of a kind soul and will be dearly missed by all who knew him.”

Sheppard wrote that since Lescene’s body has not yet been recovered, his family will face delays in accessing the financial support he arranged for them.

“The delay may be lengthy and because of that we are asking for any support so that we can ease Sarah’s mind from financial burden and let her focus on grieving,” Sheppard wrote.

The fund has already raised almost $10,000.

Lescene worked as a hull technician for the Department of National Defence based at CFB Esquimalt. Several colleagues commented on social media that he was happy and fun to be around.

A spokeswoman for Maritime Forces Pacific said it cannot comment until Lescene’s boss meets with his family.

• The online fundraising page is at gofundme.com/support-for-joelescenes-family