UPDATE: ‘Swimmer in distress’ rescued off Jack Block Park

(First 2 WSB photos by Christopher Boffoli)
FIRST REPORT, 2:17 PM: Seattle Fire is on the way to a water-rescue call in the 1900 block of Harbor Avenue SW. We’ll be updating as we find out more.

2:23 PM: SFD tweets that the call went out as “swimmer in distress.” The person they’re trying to help is now reported to be near a barge off Jack Block Park. Via scanner: They are talking with him and he told them he would like some help.

2:26 PM: The swimmer is reported to be backpaddling toward the shore from about 100 yards out. U.S. Coast Guard has also been summoned to help.

2:28 PM: The swimmer, a man believed to be in his mid-20s, is now reported to be out of the water. A Coast Guard boat will be taking him to meet up with a medic unit at a nearby dock.

2:44 PM: Our crew says the swimmer is alert and conscious and now in a medic unit. SFD medics are now checking him out for possible early stages of hypothermia.

(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)
POSTSCRIPT: WSB’s Christopher Boffoli reports authorities believe the man jumped into the water in the Salty’s (WSB sponsor) area – with his shoes on – and started swimming east, for reasons unknown.

Panda June 11, 2015 (8:06 pm)

I once ran into Baker lake with hiking boots on to save my dog who was struggling in the water. #badidea – We both made it out but wow your feet sink quick. My friend was happy to point that out to me that fact once I was safely (barely) on shore.

This however sounds suspicious. Perhaps he ordered the Calamari there. :/

Mike June 12, 2015 (5:31 am)

Depending on the footware shoes may help you in a survival situation, running shoes for example float quite well. Think of all the feet in shoes that have washed up on the coast. Maybe more important they slow the loss of heat transfer in cold water, just as they do on cold or hot terra firma.

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