SEATTLE — Seattle police crews are searching for a 24-year-old woman who fell off a boat into Lake Washington on Monday night.
Seattle Fire Department crews were called to 57th Avenue South and South Holly Street in the Seward Park neighborhood to look for a woman who went in the water at about 9:30 p.m. on May 27. The woman reportedly fell somewhere northeast of Pritchard Island Beach, according to the Seattle Police Department (SPD), which is leading the investigation.
The search and rescue operation drew a large, multi-agency response with Seattle police's Harbor Patrol Unit, the U.S. Coast Guard, Mercer Island Marine Patrol and civilian boats helping look for the woman.
Crews dropped a buoy in the water while they searched to mark the last known location of the woman who went into the water.
At about 11:15 p.m., command of the operation was turned over to SPD's Harbor Patrol Unit, which established search and rescue operations from Pritchard Island Beach.
“I heard him tell the police officer that when he got to this area, he slowed the boat down and was taking pictures but also a video and said you can look on this video and see her jump into the water,” said Eunice Antoine, who lives nearby and saw the search efforts on Monday night.
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search for the woman Tuesday at 10 a.m. However, Seattle police said its Harbor Patrol Unit is still searching for her using patrol boats and a remote underwater vessel.
The unit impounded the boat from which the woman fell and secured it at Harbor Station.
“It’s kind of odd that she disappeared so quick. She’s not that far off of the shore I don’t know how deep it is out there but doesn’t seem deep enough to lose somebody that quick,” said Antoine.
A 46-year-old man who was operating the boat was arrested on suspicion of boating under the influence. He was booked into King County Jail.
As of Tuesday, Lake Washington was about 57 degrees, according to data from the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks.
Preliminary data from Public Health – Seattle and King County reveals there were approximately 30 preventable drowning deaths within the county in 2023.
Water safety tips from officials:
- Swim where there is a lifeguard.
- Wear a life jacket when boating, tubing, rafting, swimming, paddle boarding, or on lakes, rivers, salt water, or pools without a lifeguard. Find a map of free loaner life jackets at this link.
- Always pay close and constant attention to children in or near the water
- Obey all safety signs, notices, and warning flags, including lake closures due to pollution.
- Do not use alcohol or drugs during water activities.
- Learn to swim – including water safety and survival skills.
- Learn first aid and CPR.
- If you see a person struggling in the water or go under water: Call 911 immediately, stay in one spot and find an object across the water from where the person went under (house, large tree, etc.), and provide any info about the person to firefighters.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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