Rescuers urge caution after 2 swimmers pulled from chilly WA lakes
Rescue officials are urging swimmers to take caution after two men were pulled Tuesday from dangerously cold lakes in Seattle and Issaquah, where air temperatures approached 90 degrees.
Seattle Fire Department rescuers pulled a 19-year-old swimmer out of Lake Washington about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, about 10 minutes after he was last seen swimming near the Montlake Cut. Paramedics took him to Harborview Medical Center, where he remained in critical condition Wednesday morning, said hospital spokesperson Susan Gregg.
The teen was not wearing a personal flotation device when rescuers found him, said Fire Department spokesperson David Cuerpo.
Less than an hour later, bystanders at Lake Sammamish State Park pulled a swimmer in his 30s to shore after noticing him floating facedown in the water for several minutes. Paramedics took the man, who had been wearing a life preserver, to a nearby hospital in "very, very serious condition," said Eastside Fire and Rescue spokesperson Catherine Imboden.
Such rescues are "unfortunately" familiar to local first responders this time of year, as swimmers try cooling off in waters that are still "deadly, deadly cold" - even for those wearing life jackets, Imboden said.
"We really warm up quick in the spring and early summer and our waters do not," Imboden said. "Muscles can cramp, breath can get short, and it's really easy for incidents to happen."
Temperatures on Tuesday peaked at 86 degrees at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, about 15 degrees higher than the daily average for June 2 and the hottest day of the year so far, according to National Weather Service data.
Water temperatures recorded this week at beaches near the two rescues were 67 degrees in Lake Washington and 71 degrees in Lake Sammamish, King County records show.
The combination of hot weather and frigid water can be deadly for swimmers who don't know the risks of "cold body shock" which comes with plunging into icy waters, Imboden said.
Jumping into water below 70 degrees can cause sudden and dramatic changes in a person's breathing, blood pressure and heart rate. Those changes, along with a gasp upon hitting the water, increase the risk of drowning - even for confident swimmers and people wearing life jackets, according to federal safety guidelines.
Water safety experts recommend people know the temperature of the water they're getting into. Anyone entering the water - including swimmers, kayakers, paddleboarders and boaters - should wear a life jacket, a requirement by law for children under 12.
People should also avoid alcohol and drugs, avoid swimming alone and watch out for other swimmers, according to safety experts.
Correction: A previous version of this story included water temperatures recorded by King County buoys about 33 feet below the surfaces of Lake Washington and Lake Sammamish. Those temperatures were colder than those recorded at shallower depths.
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 4:52 PM.