A 911 call was received at approximately 2:00 a.m. from a 36-year-old man in a kayak who reported his 28-year-old companion was in the water. The younger man’s kayak had flipped over and he was clinging to the kayak’s hull.
The caller reported he was 2 to 3 miles south of the West Point Lighthouse. Patrol units, Harbor units, and Seattle Fire units were dispatched.
Seattle Police Harbor Boat 3 located the individuals and took them aboard their boat. The two were transferred to the Fireboat Leschi and taken to SFD Station 5 and then to Harborview Medical Center.
The younger male was suffering from hypothermia but is expected to recover.
The two men had apparently been watching the Texas-Alabama game on TV and having some beer. During the game about 8 p.m. or so they decided to go for a trip in the kayaks.
They apparently started from the Bremerton side of the Sound. Officers reported that the two were dressed in street clothing and not wet suits. They were wearing personal flotation devices.
Officers could smell a very strong odor of beer on the two. As could be imagined the younger man who had been in the water was excruciatingly cold and could barely speak coherently.
The younger male was in the water for approximately 45 minutes before being rescued.