UPDATE: Kayaker rescued near Fauntleroy ferry dock

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(Added: WSB photos of rescue response @ Cove Park – first three photos)

6:07 PM: Big “saltwater rescue” response headed for the Fauntleroy Ferry terminal right now. According to the scanner, the report is a possible kayaker in trouble about 200 yards offshore. More to come.

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6:12 PM: Per the scanner, the person is OK – “just needs help coming to shore.”

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6:15 PM: “Patient is out of the water.” Another kayaker is being towed to shore.

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(Added: Reader photo, texted – thank you)

A rescue boat from a state ferry helped in the rescue.

(Added: Reader video, texted – thank you)

6:25 PM: Shore-side rescuers are at Cove Park north of the ferry dock. They tell our crew at the scene that the kayaker who got into trouble was a man in his 20s, out kayaking with a friend when his kayak took on water. He’s indeed on shore and doing OK, alert and conscious.

6:40 PM: Medics are taking the rescued kayaker to Harborview. According to their communication with the hospital, the kayaker was not underwater at any point, but had been hanging onto the kayak until rescued, so much of what they’re doing right now is getting him warmed up.

10 Replies to "UPDATE: Kayaker rescued near Fauntleroy ferry dock"

  • BB May 1, 2016 (6:23 pm)

    A few years ago  I was in a double kayak with my mother.  We waited for a ferry to leave the dock.  I thought I had waited long enough for the ferry back wash to calm down.   We crossed in front of the dock and I was shocked how strong the backwash still was.  The surface appeared calm, but we were being pushed towards the pilings.  We paddled hard and avoided hitting the dock.   It turned out ok but it could have gone terribly wrong.   Just wanted to share in case others are ever paddling around the dock.

  • RelievedMama May 1, 2016 (6:24 pm)

    I’m glad to hear everything is okay!  We heard the sirens while putting the babies to bed.

  • Adriana May 1, 2016 (6:26 pm)

    I live off fauntleroy and heard about 20 fire trucks and police cars with sirens going by since a little after 6, it finally just stopped about 5 minutes ago. I hope the kayakers are ok and nothing bad happened, it really sounded as if it was not good. Scary. 

  • Leah S May 1, 2016 (8:57 pm)

    • WSB May 1, 2016 (9:00 pm)

      Thanks, we have a few more reader photos and some video that we will be adding – got sidetracked covering some other stuff this past hour.

  • bill bob May 2, 2016 (12:32 pm)

    I kayaked there once. I was seasick for 8 hours! Those ferries make some waves. I’m glad everyone is ok. 

  • Cameron May 2, 2016 (3:21 pm)

    Just wanted to give a huge thanks to all those involved in the rescue & also to the concerned folks along shore who offered their unwavering support in helping deal with the kayaks once my friend had been taken to Harborview.

    Everything turned out fine, he warmed up and came back to Lincoln and the two of us hauled the yaks back along the coastal Lincoln Park / Colman to their homes. We’ll surely try and learn from this excursion and remember to strap on the life vests in the future…

    Thanks again to all involved in the rescue & help thereafter!

  • AIDM May 2, 2016 (10:23 pm)

    Yes, wear life vests.  This is the bare minimum to be compliant with the law.  But moreover, take a kayak class.  You need to learn how to get back into your kayak using an inflatable paddle float and bracing on the paddle. Nothing you were doing today was remotely dangerous had proper preparation been taken, yet it needlessly almost resulted in catastrophe.

  • Cameron May 3, 2016 (3:02 am)

    Well, the thing is i’m a very experienced and proficient paddler, I dealt with this same situation last winter after dark with nothing but a friend to help stabilize my kayak while i got back in, after treading water alone for 10 minutes while he navigated back to me for rescue, and we were fine. I suppose your comment rings true for those who go kayaking with a friend and are not familiar with rules of kayak safety, but the main issue which prevented him from getting back into the boat was that two of the hatches came loose and thus water immediately flooded the boat, nearly sinking it altogether.

    I appreciate your advice, but this event would not have been prevented with any kayak class. 

    Now you might suggest getting more functional kayaks and whatnot but this was more a matter of chance where what could go wrong did… and with the minimal safety measures we had taken the end result was the best we could have hoped for, and I am thankful for that.

  • mark47n May 3, 2016 (4:45 am)

    As the former Sr. Instructor and trainer for Alki Kayak Tours and long-time paddler (I love to paddle at Constellation Park during storms in my litle yellow boat) I offer a few quick comments: There is no law stating that you have to wear the PFD (Personal Flotation Device, t’s not a life jacket. They’re different) but you are required to have it on your vessel. That said, not wearing it does no good as you probably won’t be able to get it one once you’re in the water.

    Never paddle between the outer dolphins/piling and the actual dock. If you’re concerned about backwash due to your comfort level then wait for a bit and then proceed. As you’re supposed to have a a few hundred yards between you and the ferry this is a problem that should be self-resolving.

    As I’ve gotten older I’ve had less regard for how people paddle their boats. That said, I’ve not let up on whether or not they do it safely. I encourage new paddler or aspiring paddlers to take some foundational courses that cover kayak safety, to include immersion and other equipment and the laws surrounding kayaking, boat control or making the boat go where you want and reentry to include assisted and unassisted reentry.

Sorry, comment time is over.