At least three individuals remain missing after a boat sank off the coast of Washington state, while one person was fortunate enough to be rescued by passing boaters. The incident unfolded on the afternoon of May 21, when a vessel carrying four people began to take on water hundreds of feet offshore in Possession Sound, north of Seattle. The Everett Police Department received notification of the distress call around 1:10 p.m., according to their official news release.
The rescue came when a nearby boat spotted the struggling vessel and pulled a man in his 50s from the sinking craft. He reported that three others were still on board: a man in his 60s, a man in his 20s, and a woman in her 40s. Authorities say the group was out shrimping when the boat started to flood, though the exact cause of the accident remains unclear and under investigation. Whether the passengers were family or acquaintances has not yet been determined.
When emergency crews arrived, they found the 26-foot boat mostly submerged. Efforts were quickly made to raise the vessel and tow it to shallower waters. Despite these attempts, the boat ultimately sank and was deemed unsalvageable. The scene became a challenging environment for search and rescue teams, who deployed a variety of resources in their efforts.
Rescue swimmers and dive teams plunged into the waters alongside marine units equipped with drones and advanced equipment from multiple agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard. These forces worked tirelessly in the search for the missing passengers. However, as night fell, the search was temporarily suspended, with plans to resume the next day on May 22. The Everett Police Department has yet to provide an immediate update on the ongoing operation.
In a somber statement, the Everett Fire Department extended their thoughts to all those affected by the tragic incident. They noted that the operation has now transitioned into a recovery effort, a grim indication that the missing individuals are feared to have not survived. The Coast Guard has urged mariners in the area to maintain a vigilant watch for any signs of the missing, and has requested anyone with information about the incident to contact their command center at 206-217-6001.
Meanwhile, the survivor from the sinking, thankfully, remains uninjured. This small glimmer of hope stands in sharp contrast to the uncertainty surrounding the fate of the other three. The search continues under difficult conditions, with authorities committed to doing everything possible to find answers in this tragic maritime event.
