SEATTLE — The Coast Guard is searching for a U.S. Navy sailor missing in Crescent Harbor on the east side of Whidbey Island, Saturday afternoon.
The sailor, 33-year-old male assigned to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, went missing after his boat broke apart in Crescent Harbor.
A watchstander at Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, in Seattle, received a report of one person in the water at 1:40 p.m. A woman aboard the boat safely swam ashore and reported the incident and the missing person.
The watchstander immediately directed the diversion of a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew from Air Station Port Angeles and directed the launch of a rescue crew aboard a 45-foot Response Boat - Medium from Station Seattle. The Coast Guard Cutter Sea Lion, an 87-foot patrol boat home-ported in Bellingham, arrived on scene to join the search at 4 p.m.
“The Coast Guard was on scene within moments after we were notified," said Lt. John McKenzie, chief duty officer, Sector Puget Sound. "Our dedicated crews will continue to search as long as there is a possibility of survival."
An aircrew aboard a SH-60 Seahawk helicopter from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, also searched but stood down from the search at about 5 p.m. Local responders from Island County Sherriff’s and fire also searched but have also stood down search efforts.