EVERETT – Yesterday around 1 pm, Everett Police and Everett Fire responded to a report of a kayaker in distress off Jetty Island and Priest Point. The US Coast Guard (USCG) located the kayak about 500 yards offshore from Priest Point. An air station Whidbey Island helicopter crew recovered an unresponsive male matching the description of the missing kayaker this morning at approximately 9 a.m. The Snohomish County Medical Examiner identified the male as James K. Lesemann of Everett, WA. The cause of death was hypothermia & drowning and was ruled an accident.
According to Everett Police, the dispatcher was unable to communicate with the 9-1-1 caller due to the sound of high winds but was able to ping the phone and determine they were on the water by Jetty island. Many agencies responded to the 9-1-1 call including the U.S. Coast Guard, the Everett Fire, and Police departments, Tulalip Tribal Police, and the Snohomish County Sherriff’s Office.
A USCG helicopter flew several search patterns just North East of Hat Island yesterday evening before refueling. In addition to the helicopter, multiple search boats, drones, and an 87-foot patrol boat arrived and searched through the night.
