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Family of missing swimmer asks for help

Posted by Geeky Swedes on August 24th, 2008

On Thursday night we reported on a water rescue and missing swimmer at Golden Gardens Park. The search was suspended and the swimmer has yet to be found. In our original post, we noticed that people who said they were family members were connecting through the comments. We exchanged emails with Martin Sweet, who lives in Austria, and he says the missing swimmer is his son, Brent Sweet. He sent us this photo.

“We are very thankful to everyone at the scene who tried to save the two men,” Martin writes in an email. “We also thank you for your site and that a few of us could connect with each other there. My wife and I and our other son and daughter are heading for Seattle within the next day to come to grips with all this and maybe find some closure. He is in our prayers.”

Martin also sent an email and photos to Emily Weaver Brown, the woman who blogged about her experience helping the paddle boarder rescue Brent’s friend. And he also mentioned that Brent’s truck has disappeared from the Golden Garden’s parking lot, which may have been taken by the surviving swimmer. If you have any information that may help the Sweet family, they ask that you call the Coast Guard at 206-217-6001. (Thanks Emily for your help on this story.)

Update: Police are looking for Brent’s vehicle, a white Nissan truck, license plate GAK-524. ‘We want to locate the missing truck and talk to whoever is driving it essentially on behalf of the family because the family does not know this other man that their son was with,” Seattle Police spokesman Jeff Kappel told the 911 Blog. If you spot it, please call the SPD at 206-625-5011.

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  • This was in the Seattle P.I. this morning:

    Body found in water could be missing swimmer

    By BRAD WONG
    P-I REPORTER

    "Seattle police Harbor Patrol officers pulled a man's body out of the water Friday afternoon near the Shilshole Bay Marina, and police say it could be the swimmer who disappeared Aug. 21 while swimming at nearby Golden Gardens Park."

    More here: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/377207_swim...

    My condolences to Brent's family.
  • friend in Los Alamos
    There will be a celebration of Brent's life this Sunday in the mountains above Los Alamos, in a beautiful setting under the aspens and Ponderosa pines. If you would like to read a bit more about Brent's life and pure heart, visit http://lamonitor.com/ He will be missed.
  • Kim
    It was confirmed through sources that Brent did drown. The family is planning a memorial for him tentatively on Sunday.Divers will make one more attempt to locate him today or tomorrow.
    We have lost a very unique young person. Brent will be loved and in our hearts for all time.
  • kiki
    I can't stop thinking about Brent. I hope we all hear some positive news soon. God bless the family.
  • kim
    No truck, no buddy no witness.
  • boardbrown
    Ugh, I can't imagine what the wait must be like to endure. God bless you guys.

    Not even the truck has surfaced?
  • Kim
    Thank you for your concern. So far there as been no more information gathered. We are hoping someone can come forward with any information at all. Even a description of the men that were seen. Anything. We are all praying for some good news. This kid is so loved by is family and friends.
  • boardbrown
    Is there any new info on this story? It's been quiet here the last couple days. Us Ballardites seem more intent on bickering about a stupid convenience store than a missing person. Shamefull.

    I'm eager to hear the latest. And I hope the latest will be good news...
  • Friends from NM
    These posts are in fact a narrow, but rare route to access information about the whereabouts of Brent. All his friends here in New Mexico would greatly appreciate any help at all. The situation is a tender and raw one indeed. I can think of no one more genuine, passionate and full of life than Brent. I am optimistic for Brent is both strong and experienced. .. we are all hopeful.
    An old friend.
  • Catherine
    Please be kind with your comments as the family of Brent may be using these posts to glean any possible information and insight that they can. Many heartfelt thoughts and prayers from Los Alamos to the Sweet family...C Nelson
  • Confused
    This is a sad story, definitely, but who in their right mind goes swimming in puget sound at 8:45 at night?
  • HL
    Here are more details from the Seattle P-I's 911 Blog:

    Swimmer believed drowned off Golden Gardens identified
    The man who went missing Thursday after swimming off Golden Gardens Park has been identified by Seattle police as Brent M. Sweet, 21, of Los Alamos, N.M.

    Police believe he drowned and said his name is being released at the request of his immediate family, who are returning to Seattle from Europe.

    Officers are also trying to find the white Nissan truck, license plate GAK 524, that Sweet and his friend drove to Golden Gardens.

    'We want to locate the missing truck and talk to whoever is driving it essentially on behalf of the family because the family does not know this other man that their son was with," department spokesman Jeff Kappel said.

    He clarified that the truck is not stolen and Sweet's death is not suspicious.

    "We are not investigating any crime here," he said. "This is a public assistance effort that we're conducting on behalf of the family."

    Sweet was wearing only shorts when he and a friend tried to swim to a buoy about 200 yards from shore, authorities said.

    People on the beach heard cries for help about 8:45 p.m. and the Coast Guard sent a 25-foot boat and a helicopter in the rescue effort.

    A Seattle Fire boat and officers from the Seattle Police Harbor Patrol Unit also responded.

    Sweet's friend clung to a paddleboarder's board until help arrived. The Harbor Patrol treated him for hypothermia before he was rushed to Harborview Medical Center.

    The effort to rescue Sweet turned to a recovery mission about 11:45 p.m. Thursday.

    Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the Coast Guard at 206-217-6001. The Seattle Police non-emergency number is 206-625-5011.

    Posted by Casey McNerthney at August 24, 2008 9:20 p.m.
    Comments
  • m
    to the Sweet family - heartfelt thoughts at this time. Thoughts and prayers...
  • biophile
    Perhaps I missed it, but where is info describing the missing truck? We can be on the look out. My heart is with the Sweet family at this terrible time. I hope they find some solace in how much our community feels their loss.
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