Man dies, 4 rescued after boat capsizes off Camano Island

Three adults were saved but a man in his late 60s died and a boy was hospitalized after their 18-foot boat capsized in frigid waters about three miles off Camano Island early Saturday.

During a harrowing rescue that came on the opening day of shrimping season, fishermen in nearby boats saved three of the adults from the overturned vessel.

None of the five in the capsized boat was wearing a life jacket, said Coast Guard District 13 Petty Officer Eric Chandler.

The boat was among about 30 fishing for shrimp in the area just south of Camano Head.

At about 7:15 a.m., the Coast Guard and other agencies responded to a call after people in two of the boats saw a wave swamp the 18-foot boat and a second wave overturn it.

The good Samaritans rushed to the capsized boat and pulled the four adults from the water. One rescuer even jumped into the water, risking her own life to reach one of the victims, according to Tulalip Deputy Fire Chief Rob Johnson.

While transporting the four adults to the Tulalip Marina, the fishermen performed CPR on the man in his late 60s. He was pronounced dead at the scene after a Tulalip medical unit also tried to revive him.

A Coast Guard rescue swimmer reached the overturned boat and recovered the boy, who was underneath the vessel. The swimmer helped get the boy into a rescue boat, where he was given CPR and then hoisted to a helicopter and taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Johnson said the boy was unconscious and in the water for approximately 45 minutes. His condition was not known.

The 46-degree water was the biggest danger the people faced, Chandler said.

"You don't have good odds of survival if you fall in the water," he said. "You are likely to go unconscious quickly in a matter of minutes or less or go into shock. You should always wear a life vest. It makes the difference between life and death."

The water was calm at the time, Chandler said.

The names and ages of the five have not been released.

Christine Willmsen: 206-464-3261 or cwillmsen@seattletimes.com