SEATTLE — A Coast Guard boatcrew and good Samaritan rescued seven adults, one child and a dog after their boat capsized in Eagle Harbor near Bainbridge Island, Washington, Sunday.
The eight people and their dog were transferred to awaiting EMS with no reported injuries.
Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound in Seattle received a mayday call at 7:52 p.m. via VHF-FM channel 16 from a good Samaritan aboard a skiff reporting people in the water calling for help.
The good Samaritan was able to recover three of the people in the water. The other five people clung to the side of his vessel.The 4-year-old child was reportedly the only passenger from the capsized boat wearing his lifejacket.
The survivors reported that their 12-foot skiff had capsized and they had been floating in the water for at least 20 minutes before being discovered by the good Samaritan.
A 45-foot Response Boat — Medium crew from Coast Guard Station Seattle arrived on scene around 8:15 p.m. and recovered all of the people and the dog and transferred them to Bainbridge Island. The RB-M crew towed the capsized vessel to Eagle Harbor.
“The preparedness and response of the good Samaritan was exceptional,” said Mike Allen, search and rescue coordinator at Sector Puget Sound. “He immediately put out a mayday call to let us and everyone in the area know of the people in distress. Had he not come upon them, the current could have carried them out farther and the situation could have have become much worse.”
The Coast Guard reminds all recreational mariners to take the time to prepare for boating. Carry multiple forms of communication devices including a portable VHF-FM marine radio. Dress for the water conditions, which are much colder than the average air temperature in summer and early fall. File a float plan with friends or family to let them know where you are going and when you’ll be back. Take care not to overload your vessel, especially small vessels such as skiffs, canoes and kayaks.
Most importantly, wear your life jacket. A lifejacket is much harder to put on once you are in the water, assuming you still have access to it. Children 13 years of age and younger are required by law to wear lifejackets while on the water.
For more information about safe boating practices please visit www.uscgboating.org.
