A man was rescued and taken to an area hospital after his kayak overturned in Lake Ballinger in Mountlake Terrace around 8:30 p.m. on Friday.

Firefighters from Snohomish County Fire District 1 were dispatched to the lake at 8:35 p.m. after witnesses reported a kayaker in distress about 400 yards from the dock on the lake’s north shore.

“Two fishermen were pulling their boat out of the lake when they heard the kayaker crying for help. They put their boat back in the water. One of the men took the boat out to the kayaker and helped him stay above water until firefighters arrived,” said Leslie Hynes, public information officer for Fire District 1. “These fishermen did a great job. Their quick action really made a difference.”

Firefighters launched a rescue boat based at the lake and brought the man ashore. The man was in the water about 20 minutes. He was transported by paramedics to Swedish/Edmonds Hospital. His condition did not appear to be life-threatening.

The man was wearing a personnel flotation device, but it was not secured properly, according to fire officials. “It’s important for all boaters to wear a life jacket that’s properly secured and properly fitted and sized to do the job its intended to do,” Hynes said.