PORT TOWNSEND — Ferry service on the Port Townsend-Coupeville route Friday was disrupted when the MV Salish conducted a water rescue for a man on a pleasure craft.
At about 3:45 p.m., the Salish was pulling into Port Townsend when boat personnel noticed a man in a 17-foot craft who seemed to be ill, said Susan Harris Huether, spokeswoman for Washington State Ferries.
The ferry circled the distressed boater, who was not identified, several times until crew members prepared an inflatable Zodiac boat to pull him out of the water.
The Zodiac, with the man aboard, traveled alongside the ferry while taking him to shore, said Port Townsend City Councilwoman Laurie Medlicott, who was watching from her home.
He was taken to an East Jefferson Fire-Rescue ambulance that was waiting on the ferry dock and then pulled into an adjacent parking lot to give him initial treatment.
The man was transported to Jefferson Healthcare hospital, where he was treated for hypothermia and discharged, said Bill Beezley, fire department spokesman.
Harris Huether said one round trip of the Salish was canceled.
Service commenced with the 5:15 p.m. sailing.
Service already was behind schedule because of high winds and choppy seas, Harris Huether said.
Medlicott said she saw another boat tow the abandoned boat onto shore after the rescue.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
