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Firefighters rescue teen from Lake Washington after car submerges from Be’er Sheva Park boat launch

Seattle – At 5:50 p.m. on Nov. 16, the Seattle Fire Department’s Fire Alarm Center received a call reporting a vehicle in the water at the boat launch at Be’er Sheva Park, in the 9000 block of Seward Park Ave. S. One occupant of the vehicle got out on their own and made it to the shore. A second occupant was unaccounted for. 

Crews arrived on scene and reported the vehicle was located approximately 30-40 feet out from the shoreline. Crews worked in tandem with the Seattle Police Department’s Harbor Patrol to locate the patient. 

Four of the Seattle Fire Department‘s rescue swimmers, four divers and two rescue watercraft entered the water and began searching for the unaccounted for person. Two aerial ladders were raised over the boat launch with lights to assist with search efforts.

After approximately 30 minutes, rescue swimmers reported finding the person in the water. They brought the patient to shore, and medics immediately began life-saving measures. 

Patients treated:

  • An approximately 20-year-old female who exited the vehicle on her own. The patient was in stable condition and transported to the hospital by AMR. 
  • An approximately 17-year-old female who was rescued from the water.  Crews performed life-saving measures. The patient was transported to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition. 

The scene was turned over to Seattle Police and crews returned to service. 

In total, three engines, three ladder trucks, Rescue Company 1, two medic units, two rescue watercraft, and six additional command and support staff responded to the incident.