Submitted by U.S. Coast Guard 13th District Pacific Northwest

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter rescue crew recovered an unresponsive individual from the water near the Strait of Juan de Fuca on July 10 and transferred him to local Emergency Medical Service personnel waiting on shore and then to the Olympic Medical Center where he was later pronounced deceased.

“We offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victim who were affected by this tragedy,” said Capt. M.M. Balding, Sector Puget Sound Commanding Officer. “Any time we are unable to accomplish our goal of saving lives, we are deeply saddened. Our thoughts are with them in their time of grief.”

Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound Command Center watchstanders received communication from the cruise ship Seven Seas Mariner reporting a 73-year-old male had gone overboard at approximately 4:30 a.m.

A Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles aircrew, two Station Neah Bay boat crews, the Coast Guard Cutter Wahoo crew and a Canadian Coast Guard helicopter crew thoroughly searched the area before locating and recovering the individual.

The cause of the incident is currently under investigation.