Crewmembers’ heroism aboard Fauntleroy ferry, West Seattle Water Taxi

Two tales of heroism on board local waterborne transit this weekend.

FAUNTLEROY FERRY CREW SAVES MAN: Just before 3:30 pm Sunday, a medical call brought emergency vehicles to the Fauntleroy ferry dock. Tonight, the Kitsap Sun, while telling the story of a variety of ferry-schedule interruptions, explains what it was about: An 84-year-old Vashon Island man was found unconscious in his car aboard the M/V Cathlamet after it docked at the island. Two deckhands started CPR and used a defibrillator. An ambulance was called to the boat, which continued on to Fauntleroy, where the man was rushed to a hospital.

WATER TAXI CREW RESCUES KAYAKER: Shared by King County Executive Dow Constantine via Twitter, a report from Paul Brodeur, director of the KC Department of Transportation’s Marine Division, about an incident Saturday evening: “We pulled a borderline hypothermic kayaker out of the water at Seacrest, brought him on board to warm up, called 911, fire department came, assessed him, took him into their care. We left on the 1800 run ten minutes late but made up the time. Kudos to G.W. and Scott for quick thinking and providing good care to the young man.”

RayWest September 15, 2015 (4:53 am)

I was at the Vashon dock waiting to go back to West Seattle when this unfolded on the Southworth-bound boat. There was a shout-out by the crew to the waiting passengers for a doctor, and one happened to be among the walk-ons, so he gave up his ride home to assist in the emergency. None of us quite knew what had happened, but figured it was something like this. Thanks for the update.

Frank M. September 15, 2015 (6:20 am)

Great job guys!!

Grateful citizen September 15, 2015 (6:54 am)

Thank you to the ferry workers for doing their job and so much more. It is reassuring that they are so alert and aware of what is going on around them.

Brian September 15, 2015 (7:14 am)

We happened to be dining at Marination when that kayaker came out of the water. He was walking on his own so we just figured a paddleboarder had gone in and couldn’t get back on his board or something similar.
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I thought it was nice that SFD didn’t blaze the sirens in the parking lot since there were a lot of folks at the park. I honestly didn’t even notice they had arrived until I looked over my shoulder and saw the truck.