A Coast Guard helicopter rescue crew recovered a 73 year old man who went overboard from a cruise ship early Tuesday morning off the Olympic Peninsula.
In a news release they say the man was unresponsive when pulled from the water near the Strait of Juan de Fuca during the afternoon. He was transferred to Emergency Medical Service personnel waiting on shore, then to the Olympic Medical Center where he was later pronounced deceased.
Capt. M.M. Balding, Sector Puget Sound Commanding Officer, is offering deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victim who were affected by this tragedy.
He adds any time rescuers are unable to accomplish their goal of saving lives, they too are deeply saddened.
A report of a man overboard was received from the cruise ship Seven Seas Mariner at about 4:30 a.m.
A Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles aircrew, two Station Neah Bay boat crews, the Coast Guard Cutter Wahoo crew and a Canadian Coast Guard helicopter crew thoroughly searched the area before locating and recovering the man.
The cause of the incident is currently under investigation.