Seattle Fire Department officials retrieved the person early Tuesday evening.
SEATTLE — Seattle emergency responders performed a water rescue Tuesday evening, recovering a 19-year-old man in critical condition from Lake Washington.
The Seattle Fire Department’s water rescue team responded to reports of a person in distress near the 3700 block of Walla Walla Road NE, near the Montlake Cut.
Professional rescue swimmers successfully retrieved the man and brought them to crews on land for medical treatment. The patient is in critical condition, SFD officials said, and has been transported to Harborview Medical Center for further care.
According to King County health officials, 25 people countywide died by drowning under preventable circumstances last year. Swimming in lakes and rivers could be particularly hazardous this summer, both due to cold water temperatures and the impacts of flooding in December 2025.
Read more about official safety recommendations here.
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