Watch Seattle Police Harbor Patrol Officers Rescue Drowning Man

Aug. 18, 2023
An officer with the Seattle Police Department's harbor patrol dove into Portage Bay to save a man suffering a "behavioral crisis" who sank beneath the water.

Seattle police officers with the department's harbor patrol saved a swimmer in crisis who was drowning in Portage Bay last week.

The rescue happened at around 7:45 p.m. Aug. 11 when officers responded to reports of a man suffering a "behavioral crisis" while he was swimming along the shore of Fritz Hedges Waterway Park, KCPQ-TV reports. Once they reached the man, officers began talking with him as he struggled in the water.

Officers got close enough to toss a flotation at the man, but he sank under the water before he could latch on to it. That's when an officer dove in the water and pulled the man to safety. Body camera footage caputred the rescue.

On land, officers began CPR, and the man, who wasn't breathing, regained consciousness. He then was stabilized and taken to the hospital.

About the Author

Joe Vince

Joining Endeavor Business Media in 2018, Joe has worked on the company's city services publications. He began working at OFFICER.com as the assistant editor. Before starting at Endeavor, Joe had worked for a variety of print and online news outlets, including the Indianapolis Star, the South Bend Tribune, Reddit and Patch.com.

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