Dead Man Found Tied To Boat

Sat., July 22, 2000

From Staff

The body of a middle-aged man was found Friday morning, barely clothed and tied to his overturned sailboat in the waters of Puget Sound, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

The overturned sailboat was spotted by another vessel in Useless Bay, off Whidbey Island, at about 11 a.m., according to Coast Guard Petty Officer Gino Burns.

A Coast Guard patrol boat responded to where the 26-foot boat had capsized and found the man underneath, tied to his boat with a safety line. Sailboaters often tie themselves to the boat to avoid falling off, Burns said. The man, who has been identified, was wearing at least a shirt, and perhaps underwear as well, Burns said.

The man’s identity will not be released until his relatives are notified, Burns said. The Coast Guard believes the man drowned, but authorities will have to investigate further to make it official.

Coast Guard investigators found that the man’s boat had been harbored at Port Hadlock. The harbor master told the Coast Guard that the man, who was between 55 and 60 years old, departed the harbor on Thursday. He lived alone aboard his sailboat, Burns said.

The Island County Sheriff’s Department will take over the investigation, Burns said

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