A boater who had been on Hood Canal in a small aluminum boat was lucky to get a bit of help after observant citizens plucked him from the cold water March 18.

According to Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue, someone called 911 to report a possible boat adrift and a boater having problem on Hood Canal near the area of NW Rhoda Lane at 4:08 p.m.

The caller and his brother hopped in their own boat to investigate. They found the small aluminum boat, but it was empty.

At this time the caller had been contacted by Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue’s duty chief. The duty chief advised the caller to travel back to the original location where the boater had been sighted. The caller and his brother returned to that area, approximately three quarters of a mile away, and found the boater in the cold water.

The boater was not wearing a life jacket and it was estimated he had been in the water for approximately 30 minutes. The brothers pulled him into their boat and took him to the boat launch on Misery Point where a CKFR medic unit was waiting.

The United States Coast Guard had also sent a helicopter to the area to aid in the search.

As the weather continues to get nicer and people get out onto the water more often, Central Kitsap Fire and Rescue reminds everyone to wear a life jacket when out on any type of watercraft.