Lummi Island Ferry crew rescues two kayakers in distress, including a 3-year-old child
The captain and crew of the Lummi Island Ferry helped rescue a pair of kayakers, including a 3-year-old child, in distress Thursday, July 16, Whatcom County Public Works Department reported Tuesday.
During a routine trip between Lummi Island and the mainland, Whatcom Chief Captain Gary Poole, who has been the ferry captain for more than 20 years, noticed a kayak in the distance that was abnormally far from shore, according to a release on the incident.
The boat’s unusual position and a lack of movement made Poole “uneasy,” according to the release, so he decided to divert from the usual course to investigate.
As the ferry approached, the crew found kayak paddles floating away from the kayak and man, between the ages of 18 and 20, and the 3-year-old child in the water, the release stated. The child was wearing a life vest, but the man was not.
Deck crew members Tom Phillips and Doug Cash pulled both kayakers out of the water and onto the ferry and checked for injuries, as the Whatcom Chief transported them back to Gooseberry Point, where they were reunited with an older family member, according to the release.
“We are extremely proud of Captain Poole for his keen observations and crew members Tom Philips and Doug Cash for their quick and professional response,” Whatcom County Public Works Assistant Director Elizabeth Kosa said in the release. “Our ferry employees do an outstanding job on a daily basis, and this is one of the more dramatic examples of them going above and beyond for our community.”
