West Pierce Fire & Rescue's Endeavor Rescues Man Near Anderson Island

West Pierce Fire & Rescue rescued a 70-year-old man Thursday who had swam to his boat that had pulled off shore near Anderson Island.

Luckily for him, the department's fire boat, Endeavor, was nearby.

The department was training on the east side of Anderson Island at approximately 10:20 am when it was called to a water rescue near Eagle Island. Endeavor quickly headed toward the scene and arrived in seven minutes.

Crews found a 70-year-old male in the water, clinging to his boat. The fast-moving tide had pulled the man’s boat off the shore despite having bow and stern anchor lines in place. He swam to the boat but was unable to get onboard.

The man held on to the bow anchor line in the strong current for about 10 minutes when he decided to swim to shore. The boater, who was not wearing a life jacket, made it back to shore just as Endeavor arrived on scene.

The patient was loaded onto the Endeavor and assessed. Other than being wet and cold, he was found to be in good condition. His wife was on the opposite side of the small island and was unaware of the event until Endeavor’s crew went and found her.

A crew member boarded their boat and moved it away from the current to a place where it wound be safe for them to board. They boarded safely and the Endeavor resumed its training mission.