Summary

Crew of Water Taxi MV Doc Maynard aids swimmer in distress

Story

Pulling out of West Seattle’s Seacrest Dock on August 30, the crew of the King County Water Taxi MV Doc Maynard saw a man in the water and immediately went into action to get him out of the water and onto their vessel.

During an afternoon sailing of the Doc Maynard to West Seattle, Metropolitan King County Council Chair Joe McDermott recognized ship Captain Jeff Bearden and the crew of the Doc Maynard for their quick response to the water emergency.

Councilmember Joe McDermott with Marine Division Director Paul Brodeur, Jeff Bearden, Captain of the Water Taxi Doc Maynard and Deckhand Bob McDougall. The County Council recognized Captain Bearden and his crew for rescuing a man who fell out of his boat into Elliott Bay near West Seattle’s Seacrest Dock (l-r) Brodeur, McDermott, McDougall, and Bearden

“It’s an honor to know Captain Bearden, Ms. Cook and Mr. McDougall. These are true professional public servants,” said McDermott. “Their skillful response to a dangerous situation should give confidence to everyone in King County that we’re in excellent hands on this very important regional transit service.”

When the man, who had fallen out of his boat, was spotted in the water, Captain Bearden steered the water taxi near his location and notified authorities of a person in distress. Deckhand Amanda Cook quickly threw the man a life jacket and prepared the equipment used for a man overboard. Deckhand Bob McDougall went into the water after getting into a rescue suit and helped the man out of Elliott Bay and onto the vessel.

“What impressed me most was the efficiency with which our crew responded to the man in the water and worked in unison to do as we’d trained,” said Capt. Bearden. “From the instant we first spotted him in the distance to the moment the paramedics were giving him a clean bill of health at the dock, only 15 minutes had elapsed and we were back on our way.”

WHEREAS, the crew of the Water Taxi, MV Doc Maynard, noticed a distressed man in Elliott Bay as it pulled away from Seacrest Dock in West Seattle on the evening of August 30; and

WHEREAS, Captain Jeff Bearden skillfully navigated the boat to facilitate the rescue and called for further aid; and

WHEREAS, Deckhand Amanda Cook threw out a life jacket and prepared the man overboard equipment; and

WHEREAS, Deckhand Bob McDougall donned a rescue suit and entered Elliott Bay to assist the distressed man that medical personnel later determined to be unharmed; and

WHEREAS, the newly trained crew flawlessly executed their safety training to pull the man out of the water and onto the MV Doc Maynard; and

WHEREAS, the crew displayed bravery and a deep commitment to public service;

NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Metropolitan King County Council, recognize the

for their heroic and life-saving efforts.

DATED this fourth day of October, 2018.