UC Davis student rescues three girls from drowning in Lake Washington

Lillie Vehling, a water polo player at UC Davis with lifeguard training, rescued three girls from drowning in Lake Washington during Seattle’s Seafair festival on July 31, 2026.

While watching the Blue Angels aerial performance at Genesee Park, Vehling noticed the group struggling near a buoy lane. She observed that the girls were bobbing up and down to catch breaths, noting that one girl was inadvertently drowning the others in an attempt to stay afloat.

Vehling entered the water and first extracted the girl causing the most distress to stabilize the situation for the others. During the rescue, she encountered a third girl who was unconscious and barely floating near a buoy rope. After pulling all three to safety, Seattle Fire Department paramedics provided medical assistance, and one girl was transported to Seattle Children's Hospital in stable condition.