On 07/22/2013, at about 7:41 p.m., Bainbridge Island officers were dispatched to the Eagle Harbor area near the mouth of Eagle Harbor located in Kitsap county WA. There was a report of two kayakers whose boats had capsized and they were clinging to the ladder of the piling. Both subjects were out of the water. 

Officers arrived and found the victim, who appeared to be passing in and out of consciousness, lying prone on the platform. Another subject was standing by victim. 

Officers interviewed Subject regarding what had happened. Subject said that he and three friends, including Victim, had been staying over at his mother's house on Bainbridge Island. He said they had been drinking most of the day and decided to go kayaking. He said they had been out about three hours and were starting to return to the harbor when a passing ferry boat wake had caused his and Victim's kayaks to overturn. None of them had PFDs with them but, according to Subject, they were all good swimmers. 

Subject said that he and Victim were attempting to swim toward the piling about 150 yards away, and were towing the kayaks behind them. He noticed that Victim was having some trouble swimming and towing the kayak so told him (Victim) to swim ahead and he (Subject) would tow the kayaks behind him. He arrived at the piling in time to see Victim climbing the ladder to the top. Subject climbed up as well. He said that he and Victim had been in the water for about 45 minutes before getting on the piling. When asked what happened to the kayaks Subject said he didn't know. He was also asked where the other two kayakers went and he said they left and he didn't know where they went. 

Victim was airlifted to Harborview Hospital for observation. There were no visible signs of injury, but the aid crew told officers that due to his unknown intoxication level, possible hypothermia, and possible water ingestion, he needed to be transported. 

Officers report that due to the fact that there was such a disconnect in time and space between the first contact with the victims and their watercraft, they could not put the elements together to make a prosecutable case for intoxicated boating. No one saw them on any specific watercraft, nor did anyone see them drinking before or during this incident. This evolution is being treated as a water rescue at this time. 

One injury / No fatalities. 
There was alcohol involved in this incident. 
There were no vessel damages reported. 
No one involved in this incident was wearing a PFD. 
The operator/victim did not have a mandatory Boater Education Card. 
There were no confirmed Rules of the Road Violations.
Bainbridge Island, City of