Man Presumed Dead After Trying To Rescue Child In Lake Washington

BELLEVUE, WA — A man is missing and presumed dead after attempting to rescue a child who went overboard on a sailboat, Bellevue fire officials said Wednesday night. The Bellevue Fire Department confirmed a water rescue operation was underway along Shoreland Drive Southeast shortly before 7:30 p.m. Firefighters said a child fell off a sailboat, then later made it back aboard safely, but a man who attempted a rescue vanished underwater.

Officers with Mercer Island's marine patrol unit said the water was more than 100 feet deep and determined a rescue was not feasible due to the amount of time that had passed. The fire department said Mercer Island would lead a recovery operation with help from Bellevue.