UPDATE: Water-rescue response off Beach Drive

(Added: Photos by David Hutchinson. Above, SFD’s Fireboat 2)

5:10 PM: A Seattle Fire water-rescue response is headed to the 5600 block of Beach Drive SW (map), after a report of a kiteboarder in trouble. Updates to come.

5:19 PM: Via radio communication, responders say they’re seeing a board but so far, nobody with it. Also note, the response is on a narrower section of Beach Drive, which means traffic effects – avoid the area.

5:24 PM: They’ve found a blue-and-white board offshore, attached to a buoy, but have not confirmed whether anyone is actually missing.

5:28 PM: They’ve determined this board isn’t linked to anyone in trouble; there’s another boarder about a mile south they’re going to go check with to be sure they’re OK and weren’t with anyone.

5:37 PM: They’re not finding evidence of that person so far, but now they’re looking at relocating crews further south – to Lowman Beach and/or the ferry dock – until they can check more closely. The dispatcher says the original caller reported a kiteboarder last seen “two hours ago.”

5:43 PM: “It does not appear we have a victim at this time,” is the conclusion, and this is being wrapped up/canceled.

16 Replies to "UPDATE: Water-rescue response off Beach Drive"

  • Chuck October 16, 2020 (5:22 pm)

    Yup—a cop just screamed down Graham St at truly breakneck speeds and hearing fire sirens on the way now. Knew you’d know—thx WSB and hope they’re ok…

  • S October 16, 2020 (5:28 pm)

    Thank you for the updates. Lots of emergency response action happening right now. 

    • WSB October 16, 2020 (5:32 pm)

      There was also a natural-gas leak near 34th/Trenton dispatched at exactly the same time – found to be small, no evacuations, unlike the one this time yesterday in Upper Fauntleroy.

      • Lac October 16, 2020 (7:04 pm)

        Any idea what happened on sw Roxbury this evening? I know it’s king county sheriff not spd since the area is technically white center but big fire department turn out, and looked like an injured person or two in the street. 

        • WSB October 16, 2020 (7:36 pm)

          No, all I know is it was a response with KCSO and SFD, though it was NHFD territory, listed as a medic response. Couple people emailed about it but nobody texted so it didn’t break through the other stuff we were chasing at the time. One photo showed medics tending to someone on the sidewalk on the north side of Bartell Drugs.

  • D October 16, 2020 (5:37 pm)

    They’re still flying down Fauntleroy towards the ferry terminal. 

  • Sillygoose October 16, 2020 (5:39 pm)

    Coast Guard helicopter, fire trucks, ambulance and police cars. I hope the person is found.

    • WSB October 16, 2020 (5:41 pm)

      At this point they’re not even sure there IS a missing person … convoluted as some of these calls turn out to be.

  • Peeb October 16, 2020 (5:42 pm)

    Still seeing the Cost Guard (?) flying low over the water. Are they still looking?

  • Rhonda Porter October 16, 2020 (5:47 pm)

    If the board is tied to a buoy, hopefully that means that the person is safe. People often leave their boards or dinghys tied to buoys to get to their boats that are moored to their buoy.

  • Debby October 16, 2020 (5:47 pm)

    Massive response down here on Beach Drive near Loman. Police, fire trucks, ambulance, helicopters, And I believe the Coast Guard!  

  • Guy Olson October 16, 2020 (6:00 pm)

    Said paddle board is used to get to one of the boats that is usually tied up to one of those mooring buoys. Face palm

  • Beanie October 16, 2020 (6:40 pm)

    Reminder to put your phone number on kayaks and boards so people can track you down and confirm you’re not actual in danger.

    • Useful information October 16, 2020 (9:37 pm)

      That’s a great piece of information, thanks 

    • alki_2008 October 16, 2020 (10:46 pm)

      Shouldn’t there be contact info (phone number) on the buoy?  I thought it was required to have contact info on privately owned buoys.

      • WSB October 16, 2020 (10:54 pm)

        There may have been – I heard a bit of scanner traffic indicating they confirmed with someone by phone that the board was deliberately attached to the buoy.

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