Firefighters and a couple nearby residents rescued a dozen teenagers whose dragon boat had capsized in Lake Washington evening of July 7.
All the teenagers had life vests on and none needed to go to the hospital, though they were “cold and shaken-up,” according to the SFD Fire Line Blog:
Seattle Firefighters were called to the 900 block of Lakeside Drive South in Leschi with reports of an overturned boat with people in the water. Initial reports indicated a racing dragon boat overturned about 150 yards off the shore in choppy waters.
The Seattle Fire Department responded with Engine 6 and Ladder Trucks 3 and 7 along with our Dive Team while the Seattle Police Department brought in its Harbor Patrol boat. Aid Unit 4 and 5 along with Medic Unit 28 and 44 also responded to the scene, ready to treat and transport patients
A couple living on Lake Washington witnessed the boat in trouble. The couple called 911 and jumped in their 25-foot private boat and rescued a dozen of the teenagers. Seattle Police Department’s Harbor Patrol boat rescued the remaining teenagers and brought them to shore.
Seattle Fire Department Medics examined all of the patients who spent about 10 minutes in the water. The teenagers, ages 13 to 18, were cold and shaken-up but fine. None were transported to the hospital.
All of the teenagers were wearing lifejackets at the time of the accident. The president of the dragon boat club says the team practices for accidents like this and racing members are taught to cling-on to the boat until help arrives.
The boat was towed to a nearby park.