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Swimmer missing at Golden Gardens

Posted by Geeky Swedes on August 21st, 2008

Update at 9 a.m. The search has resumed for a swimmer for a swimmer who disappeared 200 yards off shore at Golden Gardens Park at 8:45 p.m. Thursday night. Another swimmer was rescued by Harbor Patrol and taken to the hospital with hypothermia. See our earlier coverage and photos from the scene below.

12:30 a.m. The Seattle Fire Department and Coast Guard have suspended their search for the rest of the night.

10 p.m. The Coast Guard helicopter will continue to search for a few more hours. Seattle Fire is transitioning from a rescue effort to a recovery. (Photo above of the command post.)

9:50 p.m. We spoke with the spokesperson for the Seattle Fire Department at a press briefing here who tells us that Harbor Patrol pulled one man in his 30’s out of the water and transported him to Harborview Medical Center for hypothermia. Another man is still missing. He is said to have been swimming about 200 yards off shore and headed to a buoy as night began to fall.

9:25 p.m. ID’s for the two swimmers have been located on the beach. Four boats and a Coast Guard helicopter are searching the shoreline. Divers are waiting to get into the water because they don’t have a specific starting point. Witnesses say a paddle boarder had helped the one swimmer get rescued.

9:15 p.m. One swimmer has been rescued, cold but conscious. One is still missing. A dive team is headed out to assess the situation. (Photo above of the boat picking up SFD divers from the dock.)

9 p.m. There’s a report of a missing swimmer at Golden Gardens Park. Seattle Fire has responded and is searching by boat. An off-duty fire chief called 911 after seeing the swimmer in distress.

Witnesses talk to a TV crew while a boat searches in the background.

Fire crews assembled in the north parking lot of Golden Gardens.

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  • Sarah
    hmm.. I suppose that explains all of the police cars I heard a short time ago. Hope they find the missing swimmer.
  • Keith
    damn that sucks ... you can hear the sirens and a chopper I believe :(
  • Flinga
    what? wow! I was just down there at 8:30! I saw some divers and of course lots of sailboats, but didn't see any rescue people? weird. Sad. I hope they find him/her!
  • Lisa G
    *sending out hopeful thoughts*
  • A couple of additional things I heard on my scanner :

    Both swimmers were inebriated. Perhaps that explains why initiating a swim out to a distant buoy, at 8:30PM as the sun went down, wearing shorts, seemed like a good idea.

    I only heard that one set of ID was found, that belonging to the rescued swimmer, but they could have found the other one after I fell asleep.

    Police told Guardian One (their air support) to look for a white male in his twenties with dreadlocks who might be hiding.

    When the Guardian crew asked "just out of curiosity" why he might be hiding, the officer on the ground replied that he might not want contact with police, and that he was wearing very little clothing. (Words to that effect - I was getting tired by this time.)

    So the moral of the story, kids, appears to be "Don't drink a lot of alcohol, strip down to your shorts, and swim out into Puget Sound at sunset."

    This Public Service Message brought to you by the Committee to Reduce "Hold My Beer and Watch This!" Incidents.
  • lakreitz
    Even without alcohol, a naked swim in most parts of Puget Sound is not a good idea. It's cold. Always around 50 degrees or so.

    Poor guy, I saw the helicopter last night. I knew it meant something bad.
  • Yeah - the Coast Guard helicopter always gives me chills. Seeing it near Seattle means that someone is having a very bad day.
  • I was one of the witnesses to this event. I had gone down to Golden Gardens to take some photographs so I had my camera with me and I was able to take some photos of the paddleboarder/surfer rescuing the one man. The photos and my story on my blog.
  • G Dub
    I see that paddle boarder off GG quite often. Kudos to him for helping with the rescue. And to Emily as well for assisting. Thankfully all rescue personnel made it back safe.
  • GB
    Yeah, I was leaving my folks' house in the North Beach area last night when I heard the copter flying over head. Night copter flying = something bad is in progress.
  • It sounds like they are resuming the search this morning. I live on my boat at Shilshole and can hear the helicopters. It's kind of a strange feeling to have something like that happen so close to home. My prayers are with the guy's family.
  • Martin
    Hey, I am the young man's father. I spoke to Sgt Vallor of the police department early this morning. My wife and I are grieving horribly trying to get more information on this. We live in Austria and will come to Seattle soon. Please pass on any more info you may have.
  • Martin
    Additionally, we just found out that the young man pulled out the water returned to the beach and stole our son's truck, a white Nissan pickup truck. The police have an APB out on him. I would like to know more about why people think Brent,our son, may be hiding to avoid the police. Please, we are clinging to this one hope that he is still alive.
  • Flinga
    Martin, I am so sorry to hear of your son... I live near the area, and will be on the lookout for the Nissan pickup. Thinking Good Thoughts, ~Lindsay
  • Kim
    Marty he has 9 lives. He has to have one more in there. I am praying with all my heart that this is a mistake. My heart is so broken for all of you. We need the kid.
    Please any one with any news please let someone know. Please.
    Brent I love you hun, Aunt Bia.
  • Caleb
    Mardy,
    This is Caleb. I am doing everything I can , which isn't much considering the circumstances, to find something out. If my efforts can be worthwhile., I will be in Seattle in the blink of an eye. My prayers are with you and the family. Brent is strong, yet sometimes ignorant, and could be walking around clueless to the situation. Please call Russ to get my phone number as I would like to talk. Best wishes,

    CF
  • Caleb
    MarTy,
    Have you ensured police in other states are looking for these plates. I do not want to be bothersome to the investigation, but statewide authorities should be on the lookout for Brent's Nissan. From what I understand this guy is not a local most likely, and is cruising the country, and consequently, likely on the run somewhere. Oregon? California? I am so sorry, please call.
  • Martin
    Caleb , email me:
    tmsweet@mac.com
  • Kaitlin
    Hey Silver, do you remember anything else and are you positive that they thought one of the guys might be hiding? This is really important to everyone close to Brent. Please get back.
  • Kim
    Kaitlin
    Click on Silver. You may be able to locate him through is site.
  • Kaitlin
    To everyone:
    Today was a hard day for the Sweet Family. We began our walk along the beach which had become customary for our stay in Seattle, along this walk Russell and Kaitlin happened upon Sunny/Michael, the rest of the family soon followed. This was the hardest thing we had yet to endure as it answered our questions and made all conclusive. We were happy though for this chance of fate. Through this encounter with Sunny (as we know him) we learned what occurred in the water. We learned Brent's words and his happiness of his travels. Thanks to Sunny we retrieved Brent's truck his belongings and his stories. We retrieved what we had thought lost. This brings us closure to the hardest part of our lives we've had to endure and we can laugh again knowing Brent was happy and at peace. We know he lived his life to the fullest extent. And as he would like said "freedom through passion" always live your life and never give up on your dreams.

    Thank you to everyone who has helped. Thanks to everyone who has been here for the family. Thank you to everyone who helped us stay strong and keep our hope and faith in a time where darkness seemed to fall. Light is returning to us as we know this is what Brent wanted. So please everyone who has taken this to their hearts know that Brent would never want this or want anyone to grieve for him. He would want all to know that helping people is the most important thing in the world. Loving is how gave himself to the world.

    Thank you from the Sweets and Kaitlin.
  • Kaitlin
    Another Update:
    Brent's body was found on Friday right in the Puget Sound.

    Please send your good feelings and prayers out on Sunday August 31 around 2pm as that is when we will be celebrating his life down in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

    We are very happy to have closure even though we'd hoped for a different ending.

    Brent love, you accomplished all you sought. You have inspired the goodness in all.

    To all the good Ballard area people
    Please remember that just helping one person you can change the world for somebody, as you did for us.

    Again Thank you.

    Kaitlin and the Sweets
  • edie webbwood
    Tina and Martin,
    Tina I hope you read this . We are all thinking of you and your family. I am so sorry for your loss. He looks just like you! If you need anything let us know. We Love You!
    Edie
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