Man rescued after jumping off Bainbridge ferry

Published 11:11 am Wednesday, January 7, 2015

The crew of the Washington state ferry MV Puyallup saved a passenger who apparently attempted suicide by jumping into Puget Sound during a sailing from Bainbridge Island to Seattle Wednesday morning.

The ferry was on the 9:40 a.m. sailing from Bainbridge. The incident occurred at approximately 10:04 a.m., according to Coast Guard officials in Seattle.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Amanda Norcross of the U.S. Coast Guard 13th District External Affairs Office said that the ferry crew was able to dispatch a small boat and save the man before the Coast Guard got to the scene.

“The guy had jumped,” Norcross said.

She said he reportedly told the ferry crew he was “tired of life.”

Marta Coursey of Washington State Ferries said another passenger saw the man — described as a young male — go overboard as the ferry was approaching Seattle.

A small boat was launched from the Puyallup and a life ring was tossed into the water.

“He was immediately rescued and has been brought apparently uninjured to Colman Dock where EMT folks have assisted him,” Coursey said.

The ferry was delayed 10 minutes by the incident, she said.

The current temperature of the water in Puget Sound is approximately 45 degrees.

Norcross said the man was in good physical condition and he was eventually turned over to Seattle police for transfer to Harborview Medical Center.