Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Jeff Wildes from Station Seattle works with local responders to stabilize and prepare an injured woman for transport on Lake Washington, Seattle, Aug. 2, 2015.
The 19-year-old woman sustained a severe leg injury after falling off a boat and was reportedly struck on her leg by a boat propeller.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Rachel Polish.
SEATTLE — Coast Guard, Seattle Police Department, Seattle Fire Department, King County Sheriff’s Office and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel rescued a woman after she sustained a leg injury after reportedly being struck by a boat propeller on Lake Washington, Sunday afternoon.
Seattle Fire Department personnel aboard a Seattle Police Department boat safely transported the 19-year-old woman to waiting EMS who took her to Harborview Medical Center.
"Due to the excellent working relationships the Coast Guard has with our partner agencies in the Seattle area, we executed the rescue using great teamwork and it was without hesitation," said Chief Petty Officer Jeff Wildes from Coast Guard Station Seattle. "This rescue is an important reminder that boaters and their passengers should remain vigilant on the water and ensure everyone aboard has a life jacket."
A Coast Guard boatcrew from Station Seattle was already underway on Lake Washington, aboard a 29-foot Response Boat-Small II, and was notified at about 2:15 p.m. that a woman had fallen off of a boat and suffered a serious injury to one of her legs. Two medical professionals on a nearby boat witnessed the injury and provided assistance.
Coast Guard personnel arrived on scene, helped stabilized the woman for transport and towed the vessel to Leschi Lakecenter and Marina. Seattle Fire Department personnel aboard a Seattle Police Department boat safely transported the woman to EMS on shore.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.