1 dead, 1 hospitalized after water rescue on Fivemile Lake

KING COUNTY, Wash. — One man was killed and another was hospitalized after officials say one fell off of his kayak and the other tried to help on Fivemile Lake.

According to the King County Sheriff’s Office, just after 5 p.m., a man was fishing on his kayak when he fell into the lake. Another man on shore saw and went to try and rescue him.

A boat came along and rescued the kayaker, but the other man drowned. The kayaker was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center.

Crews searched for about an hour and a half before finding the other man’s body.

The King County Sheriff’s Office said if both men had been wearing life jackets, the tragedy could have been prevented.

“Lifejackets do save lives,” said KCSO Sgt. Rich Barton. “It’s actually required to be on the boat. Any body of water, any boat has to have a viable life jacket that fits, proper size, you don’t have to be wearing it but in this environment you should be wearing it.”

First responders say even as the weather warms up, the water stays cold, and they hope people will remember the importance of life jackets.

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