3 missing, 1 rescued after boat sinks near Seattle during shrimping outing
At least three people remain missing after a boat sank in Washington state, and as recovery efforts enter a second day, so far, one person has been rescued by passing boaters.
The boat, with four on board, sank hundreds of feet offshore in Possession Sound, north of Seattle, in the afternoon of May 21, with authorities notified of the incident around 1:10 p.m., Everett Police Department said in a news release.
Passing boaters were able to rescue a man in his 50s from the sinking vessel, who reported that three others were on board with him, including a man in his 60s, a man in his 20s and a woman in her 40s.
"The group was reportedly out shrimping when the boat began taking on water," police said. "However, the circumstances behind the incident remain under investigation."
It is not yet known if the passengers on the boat were related, and Everett Police Department spokesperson Natalie Given said the group's relationship is yet to be confirmed.
Boat could not be retrieved
Authorities arrived on the scene to find a 26-foot vessel substantially submerged. While "attempts were made to raise the boat and tow it to shallower waters," it ultimately sank and could not be salvaged.
Rescue swimmers, dive teams, marine units, drones and additional equipment from various agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard, assisted in search efforts, which were suspended at night but resumed in the morning of May 22. Authorities said on May 22 that the boaters had not been located yet.
"Our thoughts are with all who were involved and impacted by the events of this incident," the Everett Fire Department said, adding the operation is "now a recovery effort," indicating the missing people have likely not survived.
The U.S. Coast Guard requested mariners to keep a "sharp lookout" for the missing people and requested anyone with information on the incident to contact the command center at 206-217-6001.
The survivor, meanwhile, is reportedly uninjured, police said.
This story was updated to add more information and pictures.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.