On 9/16/2011, Victim and Subject went out kayaking after dark, each in a single kayak.  

They launched from 3Ts and paddled from there to the entrance of Blakely Harbor. Subject said he and Victim had one beer before they left. They sat in the tidal current convergence zone just outside of the harbor and talked taking pictures of the Seattle skyline.  

At some point Subject heard Victim fall out of the kayak into the water and laugh.  Subject did not see Victim fall in the water and was unsure how it happened but he thought Victim may have been trying to urinate.  He was unsure what he was doing.   

Victim then attempted to re-enter the kayak by throwing his body over it and haul himself in.  He pulled, it dipped too low and filled with water.  He was finally able to re-renter the kayak but could not paddle it.  At that point Subject and Victim were caught in the flow of the outgoing tide.  Subject then attempted to tow the kayak by tying it to Victim's kayak but they were unable to make any headway against the tide.  

Victim got into the water to swim.  He was wearing an inflatable lifejacket over a fleece jacket, swim trunks, and tennis shoes.  Victim told Subject he could not swim with the fleece and lifejacket on.  He took off the fleece and then the vest.  Victim swam and Subject paddled in the direction of the Halls Hill area (north) as it was closer.  Subject threw the vest back to Victim and told him to put it on, but he did not.  

Subject's told Victim that he was going to go to shore and get help.  He lost sight of Victim.  When he landed he ran up to a residence and called for help.  He then got back into his kayak and searched for Victim until emergency crews arrived.  Subject was placed in an aid car to warm up but suffered no other injuries. 

The parents of the victim said the two men had gone kayaking recently in the same area and that Victim had gotten out of the kayak and back into it to make sure he could re-enter it if he fell out. 

Victim's kayak, spray skirt, paddle and vest were found but he has not been located.  There was no damage to the vessels.

Bainbridge Island             