Jet Skier Bailing Water With Bottle After Watercraft Breaks Down Rescued By Marine Unit

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — A jet skier whose watercraft broke down and began sinking in the waters between Lee's Landing and the 95 bridge July 22 was rescued by the Harford County Sheriff's Office's marine unit.

The team was patrolling the waters in that area when they noticed the jet ski floating in an "unusual and distant location." The jet ski appeared motionless for a lengthy period of time, so officers pulled up to check on the jet skier. They found the rider sitting backward, attempting to bail water out of the rear hull of the jet ski with a Gatorade bottle, according to the sheriff's office.

The motor of the jet ski wasn't working and the operator told the marine unit that he thought a seal might have been left off during recent repairs, causing water to fill up the hull. Marine unit members helped him onto their boat and transported the jet ski to the Cecil County ramp as there are hazardous rocky conditions at Webster Lapidum, the sheriff's office explained. The jet skier had someone pick him and his jet ski up at that ramp.