Kayaker Missing in East Channel of Lake Washington

Marine patrol and dive teams called off their search at around 9:30 p.m. Saturday night for a kayaker feared drowned in  between Bellevue and Mercer Island.

The  marine patrol and dive crews began searching an area of the East Channel between Mercer Island and Bellevue after a woman reported someone in the water at around 3:45 p.m. Police quickly discovered an empty kayak, spray skirt and seat back, but couldn't locate the boater or a paddle.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter was assisting the search by scanning the shoreline with floodlights and an infrared camera and a Seattle Harbor patrol arrived with a sonar device at around 7 p.m., but failed to locate the missing person.

Mercer Island Police Commander Leslie Burns said the search is now in a recovery phase due to the unlikelihood that someone could survive the chilly 48-degree waters for an extended length of time. The blustery, squally rain and wind—drawing a wind advisory from the National Weather Service—may have been a factor.

"I'm certain that played a part in all of this," Burns said.

It was not known if the missing person was wearing a life jacket. Burns said divers would resume their search Sunday morning at around 11 a.m. for a body. 

Police say a concerned Newport Shores resident was watching a "big" seagoing kayak braving the waters of Lake Washington from her home just south of Interstate 90 at around 3:45 p.m., when she saw the kayak overturn about 200 yards from shore.

The kayaker came out of the boat and appeared to be struggling, so the woman moved away from the window to find her husband and see how they could help.

"I think they wanted to go get their boat and see if they could go out and help him," Burns said.

By the time the couple returned to the same vantage point, they could see the kayak but not the kayaker and immediately contacted the Bellevue Fire Department.

The following is a press release from the Mercer Island Police Department:

"On Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 3:45pm, NORCOM received a call from a Bellevue resident, reporting a kayaker in distress at the entrance to Newport Shores.  The resident watched as the kayak rolled and the kayaker became distressed.  The caller lost sight of the kayaker and called 9-1-1.  Bellevue Fire and Mercer Island Marine Patrol responded within minutes of the call.  The Marine Patrol units found an empty kayak, along with a kayak spray skirt and seat back.

The caller was interviewed and was able to give an approximate area where a search was conducted.  Seattle Police Harbor responded and assisted with the search, using their side scan sonar.  The sonar’s ability to locate the kayaker was hampered due to rough water conditions.  The search was called off at 9:30pm and will resume on Sunday at approximately 11:00am.

The Coast Guard sent a helicopter to assist with the water and shoreline search and will remain in the air most of the night, along with a Coast Guard vessel.

The Bellevue Police are handling the missing person aspect of the case and the Mercer Island Police will continue to handle the water recovery aspect. 

PIO’s from Bellevue and/or Mercer Island will be on scene at the Mercer Island Boat Launch tomorrow, at approximately 11:00am.

There is no further information at this time."