UPDATE: Short-lived water-rescue response off 61st/Alki

2:30 PM: Seattle Fire is dispatching a “major water-rescue response” to 61st/Alki after the Coast Guard reported to them that “three or more paddleboarders are in distress.” This as the weather suddenly gets ugly again. Updates to come.

2:36 PM: They’re trying to get a better read on the location – the person(s) in trouble may be close to the state ferry Tacoma in Elliott Bay.

2:39 PM: An SFD boat has reached the three paddleboarders, and a boat from the ferry, and says they’re NOT in distress, so the response is being canceled.

AN December 11, 2021 (2:35 pm)

What the actual F is wrong with people, seriously? Like you look at the weather forecast and think, “yeah, paddle boarding, that sounds good!”?!?!?!?!? Unreal.

WSB December 11, 2021 (2:46 pm)

We were in that area barely an hour or so and it was beautiful – sunny, fairly calm. Don’t know anything about who these are, where they left from, or when, but the stormy weather swept in fairly quickly.
Out December 11, 2021 (3:02 pm)

Another false alarm!? Again?!I was out on the water today and like the other comment says it was a nice day at times and was enjoyable for a lot of us The massive amount of false alarms really need to stop. Completely ties up critical resources when a real rescue is needed. The USCG has already made a public comment on this recently, and they pointed out that they have literally been called in just because someone was out on the water. No distress just people out there.This has gotten out of control and someone is going to get hurt or worse.

YES2WS December 11, 2021 (3:55 pm)

And…….. they were okay! What a surprise. Jeesh, what is up with Seattle. Seriously, someone asking what the capital f? If someone is skilled, they are not taking the perceived crazy risk that bystanders think they are.

WSCurmudgeon December 11, 2021 (4:46 pm)

Note that the Tacoma stopped and dropped a lifeboat, so something about the situation looked unsafe to experienced mariners.

Mj December 11, 2021 (5:26 pm)

People out paddle boarding this time of year are less likely to be in distress because they are most likely seasoned and prepared boarders versus the summer when the novice boarders are trying it out for the first time.

jingle bells December 11, 2021 (9:17 pm)

Good point, Mj
22blades December 12, 2021 (11:42 am)

Nope The seasoned learn how to read a weather forecast & the weather ahead & choose their battles.

wendell December 12, 2021 (10:27 am)

Portable VHF marine radio. Listen to the weather before you leave (small craft warnings and advisories), and it’s small enough secure it to yourself when working on your rough weather skills. Handy and relatively inexpensive.

Sorry, comment time is over.