Nine tribal members from Vancouver Island were rescued Monday morning after their boat overturned during the annual paddle journey, this year to Quinault.

Clallam County Fire District 3 reports the U.S. Coast Guard recovered the boaters about eight miles outside of Port Townsend where their boat filled with water.

The tribal members said they were in the water two hours before being rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard.

They were treated at John Wayne Marina around 11 a.m. for hypothermia and a 22-year-old male was transported to Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles for treatment of cold exposure with a body temperature of 92 degrees. 

The others refused further treatment and transportation to the hospital and went back to their campsite at Jamestown Beach Road. 

Twenty personnel from the fire district and Olympic Ambulance reported to the scene.

Sequim Gazette photos by Jay Cline.