Search for survivors of boat sinking near Alcatraz will be suspended
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Authorities will begin recovery efforts after search-and-rescue ends. Photo: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images
The U.S. Coast Guard will suspend its search at sunset Wednesday for the three people still missing after a boat carrying 20 adults capsized near Alcatraz Island this week, authorities announced.
Why it matters: The tragedy underscores how quickly conditions in the San Francisco Bay can become life-threatening and marks the start of a difficult recovery effort.
Driving the news: The San Francisco medical examiner identified one person whose body was recovered as Clifford Boisa, 79, of Sutter County, the Chronicle reports. A dog on board also died.
- Boisa was the older brother of the boat's owner and captain, John Boisa, 62, who survived.
- San Francisco fire chief Dean Crispen said all three hospitalized survivors have been released, while the other 13 rescued passengers have returned home.
The latest: Coast Guard crews have searched for about 23 consecutive hours, covering roughly 950 square nautical miles and more than 1,700 nautical miles of track line using 11 vessels and four aircraft, Captain Jarod Tosczko said Wednesday.
- Tosczko said it's possible the three missing passengers were trapped inside the sunken boat.
What they're saying: "Suspending an active search is one of the most difficult things we do as Coast Guard commanders," Tosczko said at a press conference. "Our goal is always to bring home families' loved ones, and we understand that families want answers."
Catch up quick: The 49-foot, three-deck cabin cruiser overturned Tuesday between Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.
- Most of the passengers were relatives and friends gathered for a memorial, the Chronicle reports.
- Rescue crews and nearby civilian boaters pulled people from the choppy water after the boat began sinking shortly after 3:30pm. Officials believe the boat may have been struck by a wave before rapidly rolling over, though the cause remains under investigation.
Zoom in: The vessel came to rest about 120 feet below the surface in a commercial shipping channel — too deep for local divers to safely reach, per the Chronicle.
The big picture: Fatal recreational boating accidents are relatively uncommon in the Bay, but its waters are known for powerful tidal currents and steep wind-driven waves.
What's next: Once the search ends, authorities will shift to recovery efforts.