Posted: January 29, 2010 6:35:16 PM PST
A cell phone call from a man walking around Lake Padden alerted police of two subjects that had capsized and were calling for help. Three minutes after receiving the information, a Bellingham Police Officer arrived to find an overturned canoe and two men in the water.
As the officer arrived he saw a friend in the parking lot that happened to be an off duty Bellingham Firefighter. The off duty Firefighter was at the lake on a recreational outing and had two stand up paddle boats with him at the time.
Both the off duty Firefighter and Officer fashioned a quick rescue plan. Each paddled out to the struggling swimmers in an attempt to get them to shore.
One victim started swimming towards shore and was assisted onto one of the paddle boats. As the first victim was being brought to shore by the police officer, the off duty Firefighter continued to the over turned canoe and the last known location of the second man in the water. Units from the Bellingham Fire Department and the South Whatcom Fire Authority also launched boats to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts. South Whatcom Fire Authority was also able to deploy underwater cameras to search for the missing man.
The second victim has not been located at this time. The shoreline, trails and surrounding water area have been searched by officers and Whatcom County Search and Rescue . The area around the lake has been searched by Custom and Border Protection Air and Marine helicopter.
Volunteer divers from the Whatcom County Search and Rescue will continue their efforts until dark. The recovery effort will resume in the morning should that become necessary.
The first victim recovered was transported to the hospital. He is a 28 year old Bellingham man. The second victim also believed to be 28 years old is still missing. Their names have not been released at this time.
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Media Contact:
Mark Young
Public Informatiom Officer
Bellingham Police Department
(360)778-8815
myoung@cob.org
