Teen at Sailing Camp in Critical Condition

Seattle, WA (August 28, 2017) – A 17-year-old boy is in critical condition after he was found today underwater at a sailing camp on Lake Washington. The incident occurred at Sail Sand Point, a community boating facility in Magnuson Park.

The victim and about seven other teens, ages 14-18, had just waded into the water near a dock so instructors could observe their comfort level. The next step was going to be for the teens to put on a life vest, but the victim had already disappeared.

Four instructors looked for the boy. He was found underwater after about six minutes.

After pulling him from the water, they began CPR. When medics arrived, the boy had no pulse. After medics began giving the victim aid, he had a faint pulse by the time the ambulance left for the hospital.

Staff at Sail Sand Point said the incident was the first after training hundreds of kids each year how to be in and around the water. The sailing camps have been suspended for the day. Instructors will be reviewing their processes to determine if they could have done anything differently.

Source: KIRO7.com

UPDATE: Mary Anne Ward, Executive Director at Sail Sand Point, found the story by KIRO 7 News to have inaccuracies, and while she was unable to address some of the issues because the young man is a minor, she did clarify that the situation did not occur while the boy waded into the water near a dock, but rather arose during a swim test which is given to all 2,000 youth who go through the programs each year.  Said Mary Anne, “Two instructors were with the camp – one in the water and one on the dock and both very close to the kids.  The instructors responded immediately and performed life-saving CPR.  It is because of their training and amazing response to the situation that the young man survived.” Mary Ann found a KOMO News report to be better balanced and more complete.