BELLINGHAM, Wash. – An incident in Bellingham Bay on Thursday, December 1st, is a reminder to anyone venturing onto the water this time of year to be prepared for the worst.
Coast Guard Station Bellingham and the Bellingham Fire Department fire boat both responded to reports of a kite surfer in distress near Taylor Dock.
Winds were gusting to 20 miles per hour and the temperature was about 30 degrees when the call came in at 1 p.m.
Crews found the kite surfer’s gear on a nearby sailboat and eventually found the surfer on shore suffering mild hypothermia.
Rescuers say to always be prepared for the worst-case scenario and be sure to have a reliable way to call for help.