Search for missing swimmer in Lake Whatcom continues Tuesday
The search for a man who went missing while swimming in the southern end of Lake Whatcom is in its third day, as efforts Monday were unsuccessful.
The search Tuesday, July 12, will include using an underwater remotely operated vehicle — or underwater drone — from the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deb Slater told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
The search began after the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office was called at approximately 7 p.m. Sunday, July 10, for the report of a man who went missing while swimming in south Lake Whatcom, Slater told The Herald Monday in an email1.
South Whatcom Fire Authority crews were called to aid Whatcom County Fire District 18, South Whatcom Chief Rod Topel told The Herald.
Private boats and other search and rescue personnel aided in the search, Slater reported.
The emergency crews were needed, Topel said, after a swimmer from a boat could no longer be found.
“It appears somebody jumped off the boat to go swimming, and the boat operators monitoring the swimmer lost sight of them,” Topel said. “They went back and couldn’t locate the swimmer.”
Topel said a search boat with sonar had been requested Sunday, and the Bellingham Police Department also was on scene with a drone to aid in efforts to find the missing swimmer.
This story was originally published July 12, 2022 at 11:09 AM.
