UPDATE: Unfounded report of ‘car in water’ off Alki Avenue brings briefly big response

7 PM: Seattle Fire has a water-rescue response in the 2700 block of Alki Avenue SW for a report of a car in the water. Updates to come.

7:04 PM: This may be unfounded – police are reporting “it’s people swimming in the water …four people swimming with a light and a little red buoy.” Responders are doublechecking to be sure.

7:07 PM: They’ve confirmed, it’s just swimmers “who swim every night.” Most of the responders are being cancelled.

7:10 PM: They’ve scanned the area with an infrared camera and are certain this is unfounded – no one’s in distress, no car.

8:57 PM: Thanks to Cami MacNamara for sharing this video showing the swimmers and the rest of the scene:

West Seattle Mad Sci Guy January 17, 2024 (7:06 pm)

And here I am not even wanting to walk outside for long. Bold swim!

Anthony January 17, 2024 (7:14 pm)

It was 2 swimmers that had red lights attached to them. When they were close enough, it looked like tail lights in the water. All rescue teams are leaving the scene

alki_2008 January 17, 2024 (7:19 pm)

Emergency vehicles were in front of Duke’s restaurant (2500 block). It would’ve been quite a feat for a car to get into the water there, considering how much sand they would’ve had to traverse to reach the water.

Derek January 17, 2024 (11:13 pm)

Seems some people could get actual confirmation of such things instead of being trigger happy with calling cops? What a waste of time and resources…

Rhonda January 18, 2024 (4:07 pm)

Derek, a call to 911 for a car in the water isn’t “calling cops”. Had there really been a submerged car it could’ve been fatal without an emergency response. Stop encouraging people not to report emergencies.
- wetone January 18, 2024 (6:43 pm)
  
  Rhonda, people need to look, listen and use some common sense before calling any emergency services. Think to yourself how would a car get in the water ? Was there tire tracks across sand ? Were there any witnesses ? Where’s the common sense these days. Seems like every couple weeks there’s a call from someone for water rescues that impacts services that were not justified.
  - Rhonda January 18, 2024 (8:25 pm)
    
    wetone, in the past 25 years there have been several cars and two aircraft full of passengers that went into the water at Alki.

Stephanie January 18, 2024 (10:00 am)

I really appreciate the practically live reporting of the WSB! I heard sirens and saw emergency vehicles/boats speeding over and checked the blog and there was already a post. Best news source around.

Coldwatersiren January 19, 2024 (8:57 pm)

I can see that it can seem like a drifting vehicle if the swimmers were spaced out enough, so it’s good that people called it in. I am assuming the first team to respond, quickly figured out what was going on once they got a closer look (controlled leisure swimming strokes along the shore). We pay taxes for emergency services to exist so I am okay with it.