SEATTLE — A water rescue effort surrounding a ferry in Elliott Bay stretched late into the night, frustrating ferry passengers on board and those at the Seattle terminal waiting on a ride home.
According to the Bainbridge Island Fire Department, the Puyallup reported a “man overboard” at around 9:30 p.m. following a 9 p.m. sailing. Seattle fire and the U.S. Coast Guard were quickly called in. The search was ongoing as of 11:45 p.m., although it was scaled down considerably from initial efforts involving a search helicopter.
Pete Murney, who was on board the ferry, said searchers were unsure if a buoy fell into the water or if there was actually someone who fell in or jumped. Murney said at one point, the Coast Guard thought they had a heat signature, but did not find anything. The ferry was deputized as part of the search effort, which kept people stranded out on the water.
At the Seattle Ferry Terminal, people said they were given almost no information about the delay.
The Puyallup returned to Seattle, after being cleared from the search effort at around 11 p.m. No one was let off or on the ferry, and it sailed off again at 11:45 p.m. Another ferry was brought in to help the passengers in Seattle.
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