While on their way to Jetty Island for an afternoon picnic last Monday, Brent and Sarah Schilling heard a man in the waters of Lake Stevens calling for help. They pulled the man aboard their vessel and called 9-1-1. According to media reports, he looked to be in his mid-50s and was turning blue from cold. Reportedly, he and a friend had been on the water in a 12-foot vessel when it somehow tipped over. The boat quickly sank, and the man’s friend went missing in the lake. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, he was not believed to be wearing a life jacket.

Emergency crews arrived on the scene and searched for the missing boater for hours, while the man saved by the Schillings was taken to an area hospital for treatment. Once the missing man was presumed dead, crews shifted their efforts from rescue to recovery, attempting to locate his body with sonar equipment.

According to local media, officials have been warning people in the Lake Stevens area for weeks about boating dangers. Despite such efforts, there were numerous water and land rescues in Snohomish County during the weekend of May 12-13.

Last year, recreational boating accidents claimed 758 lives and caused 3,081 injuries, according to statistics compiled by the U.S. Coast Guard. It is important for recreational boaters to be vigilant about staying safe, especially during the summer months when recreational boating is at its peak. Boating can be fun, but it can also be dangerous if safety isn’t a top priority.

Have you been injured in a recreational boating accident? Contact an experienced Boston maritime attorney today to learn about your rights under maritime law.

Latti & Anderson LLP – Boston maritime trial lawyers