Kayak operator rescues adrift swimmer
On Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018, at approximately 5:43pm, the Department of Public Safety’s dispatch received a call about a swimmer drifting toward the preposition ships on the Saipan lagoon.
DPS officers responded to the scene and found the stranded swimmer safe on the beach of Hyatt Regency Saipan.
Police officers from Boating Safety Unit interviewed a Chinese female, who said she went swimming around 5pm and was alone on a white floating tube, taking pictures of herself. Once she noticed she was drifting toward open water, she began shouting for help. Her friend then ran to the watersports company, Ichiban, to call 911.
Patrons of Ichiban began to form a crowd that caught the attention of a kayak operator. He boarded his kayak and headed out to the victim. He was able to bring her safely to shore, but not before she flipped the kayak over twice in panic.
Both the kayak operator and victim refused medical assistance once they made it to shore.
