One individual has passed away, while three others are unaccounted for and 16 have been successfully rescued close to Alcatraz Island in San Francisco during a memorial service for family members.
A pontoon vessel with three decks was discovered almost completely submerged in the waters off San Francisco as emergency responders reached the scene yesterday afternoon. San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen reported that the vessel’s motor was still operational and leaking fuel.
The boat, primarily carrying family members participating in a memorial service, was the focus of ongoing search efforts to locate the missing individuals in the open ocean throughout the evening. The search operation, conducted on the western side of the Golden Gate Bridge, involved divers, helicopters, and various vessels.
Initially, two individuals were reported missing, but this count was revised to three after authorities interviewed witnesses. Mr. Crispen stated that they were actively engaged in rescue operations, with three injured individuals who fell from the boat already transported to a hospital, expected to be discharged on Tuesday night.
Footage from the scene depicted rescue boats being dispatched to the site of the submerged vessel. Although the incident was initially reported as a fire, Mr. Crispen clarified that the fire service had no evidence supporting that claim.
The individual who passed away was initially responsive upon retrieval from the water but succumbed later, with a dog also perishing on board.
All rescued individuals were taken to Gashouse Cove Marina, a small harbor in San Francisco. Alcatraz Island, famous for its history as a former federal prison known for its challenging ocean currents and cold Pacific waters, is now a popular tourist spot attracting over a million visitors annually.
Situated in San Francisco Bay approximately a mile north of the city’s shoreline, Alcatraz Island experiences windy conditions that draw sailboats and recreational vessels. Aaron Anfinson, captain of the Bass-Tub, recounted that his boat was navigating guests toward the Golden Gate Bridge in rough waters with strong winds.
A man on a smaller vessel alerted them to a pontoon boat that seemed to be on fire in the middle of the bay. By the time the Bass-Tub arrived at the scene, the fire had extinguished, but the pontoon was sinking.
Some individuals were already in the water while others remained on board, as Mr. Anfinson detailed their efforts to distribute life jackets to the passengers, aiding one woman with a head injury.
“We decided to assist her first,” Anfinson explained, noting how a deckhand deployed a swim ladder and threw a life ring to facilitate her rescue.
Anfinson described the situation as frightening, emphasizing his reluctance to witness individuals in distress.
Fire Lieutenant Mariano Elias identified the vessel as a “pontoon pleasure boat,” located around 600 yards from Alcatraz, with the emergency call received shortly after 3:30 pm. Crispen indicated that the vessel likely departed from the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco.
When contacted, a representative from the club stated they had no information regarding the incident. The Coast Guard and Oakland police also contributed to the rescue efforts, as mentioned by Lt. Elias.
