The Bandage Man of Canon Beach

An artist's impression of the Bandage Man of Canon Beach. Photo: facts-chology.

Legend has it that a man covered in bloody bandages terrorizes a specific stretch of Highway 101 that passes through Cannon Beach. While the origins of this legend are shrouded in mystery, many believe it to be the result of a tragic accident that occurred on the highway decades ago.

Description of the Bandage Man of Canon Beach

The Bandage Man is said to look like a mummy, covered in bandages.

The Bandage Man of Canon Beach is described as a man of average height and weight, covered in blood soaked bandages. He is said to appear out of the fog near Canon Beach and jump in front of vehicles, bang on the side of cars or sometimes even hitch hike, disappearing once inside the vehicle.

Some people even claim the Bandage Man has killed their pets.

The Legend of the Bandage Man of Canon Beach

A video telling the tale of the Bandage Man of Canon Beach

When the United States entered the Second World War, Oregon sawmills experienced a surge in production due to the construction boom caused by labor shortages. With workers hustling to keep up with demand, it's no surprise that accidents became more commonplace in these dangerous workplaces.

One tragic incident, in particular, stands out as a haunting reminder of the perils faced by those who worked in the sawmills. After a heavy rainstorm, a logger slipped and fell onto one of the saw blades, sustaining deep, lacerating wounds all over his body.

Despite the swift response of his co-workers, the logger's injuries were severe. The medics who arrived on the scene were forced to wrap his entire body in bandages to stop the bleeding.

After hastily wrapping the logger's body in bandages, the ambulance rushed to get him to the hospital. However, tragedy struck when the vehicle crashed on a slippery bend in Highway 101 near Cannon Beach.

When police arrived on the scene, they discovered the medics were unconscious, and the body of the logger, who had been wrapped in bandages, was missing. Despite a three-day search effort, no sign of the missing man was ever found.

There were no reports of the logger showing up at any local hospitals or sightings of him wandering the area. Many speculated that due to the severity of his injuries, he could not have survived for long.

Years later, a small piece of a bloody bandage was discovered, but no other trace of the missing logger was ever found.

Today, the ghost of the logger is said to haunt the old sawmill where he met his untimely end. Visitors have reported eerie sightings and unexplained phenomena, leading many to believe that the restless spirit of the logger is still seeking peace and closure after all these years.

Sightings of the Bandage Man of Canon Beach

The beautiful town of Canon Beach, where the Bandage Man is said to reside. Photo: Wikipedia

Several years later, a young couple parked their pickup truck in a secluded area of Cannon Beach along Highway 101 one dark night.

As they sat inside their vehicle, they heard rustling sounds emanating from the nearby woods. Initially dismissing it as the wind, the couple suddenly found themselves enveloped in a foul stench of decaying flesh.

As the truck shook violently, the couple peered through the window and were horrified to see a man covered in bloody bandages staring back at them.

The bandaged man began yelling and pounding on the roof of the truck, sending the couple into a panic. The driver quickly started the engine and drove away recklessly, narrowly avoiding a collision.

After finding a well-lit area, the driver cautiously examined the back of the truck and discovered a torn piece of the bandaged man's bloody wrappings. Despite searching the area, there was no sign of the mysterious figure.

Since that fateful night, there have been numerous reports of the bandaged man appearing to others, either on top or in the back of their cars. Some even claim that his sudden appearance has caused multiple accidents and deaths along the treacherous stretch of highway.

According to local legends, the bandaged man has transformed into a ghoul or zombie, driven by an insatiable hunger for human flesh. In fact, many missing pets along Cannon Beach are rumored to have fallen victim to his gruesome appetite.

Theories about the Bandage Man of Canon Beach

It is possible that the bandage man is simple a mentally ill person who had perhaps suffered some horrific injuries and chose to go for walks at night time to avoid being seen by too many people.

Some people may have seen the poor man and then embellished the story with scary happenings.

What do you think about the Bandage Man of Canon Beach? Have you ever seen him? Let us know in the comments.

If you enjoyed learning about the Bandage Man of Canon Beach you might also be interested in the legends of Pigman Road and the Penanggalan.