Swimmer, kayaker delay ferry

Three water rescues ocurred between Mukilteo and Clinton.

Ferry sailings on the Mukilteo-Clinton route were delayed three separate times this weekend while a series of water rescues were performed.

On Saturday, around 12:40 p.m., the Kitsap crew received a report of a woman in the water near the Mukilteo Ferry Terminal, according to Dana Warr, a Washington State Ferries spokesperson.

Warr said the woman reportedly jumped from the ferry terminal and was believed to be suffering a mental health crisis. Multiple agencies responded to the incident. She initially refused to be rescued.

“After about 45 minutes, the cold water obviously started getting to her,” Warr said.

Fortunately, the Mukilteo Fire Department was able to pull her to safety. Sailings were delayed for about an hour.

The next day was just as eventful. On Sunday, around 1:05 p.m., the ferry crew launched a rescue boat for a kayaker in distress who was in the water north of the dock near the fishing pier in Mukilteo.

Warr said the kayaker and his kayak were safely taken to the beach. By 1:20, the ferries were underway again.

Later that day, at 5:55 p.m., the captain of the Kitsap reported spying an inflatable kayak without a person. The rescue boat was launched again, but it was determined that since there were no missing persons in the area, the kayak was by itself.

“I imagine it got blown off a boat or a dock or somebody’s beach,” Warr said.