One person has died, three are missing, and 16 others were rescued after a three-deck pontoon boat capsized near Alcatraz Island in San Francisco on Tuesday afternoon. The vessel, carrying mostly family members for a memorial service, was found almost fully submerged when emergency services arrived. The motor was still running and leaking fuel, according to San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen.
Search and rescue efforts
The search for the missing individuals continued into the evening on the western side of the Golden Gate Bridge, involving divers, helicopters, and multiple vessels. Initially, two people were believed to be missing, but that number increased to three after authorities spoke with witnesses. "Right now we are in full rescue mode," Crispen said. Three people who suffered injuries from falling off the boat were taken to a hospital and were expected to be released on Tuesday night.
Details of the incident
The emergency call came in just after 3:30 p.m., with the vessel located about 600 yards (550 meters) from Alcatraz. Fire Lieutenant Mariano Elias described it as a "pontoon pleasure boat." Crispen said the boat was believed to have launched near the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, though a club representative said they had no information on the incident. The Coast Guard and Oakland police also assisted in the rescue.
The person who died was still responsive when pulled from the water but later passed away. A dog onboard also died. All rescued individuals were taken to Gashouse Cove Marina, a small craft harbor in San Francisco. The American Red Cross set up an assistance center at Fort Mason for those affected.
Witness accounts
Aaron Anfinson, captain of the Bass-Tub, told the San Francisco Chronicle that his boat was heading toward the Golden Gate Bridge in "pretty windy, a little choppy" waters when a man on a smaller vessel flagged them down, alerting them to a pontoon boat that appeared to be on fire in the middle of the bay. By the time the Bass-Tub reached it, the flames were out, but the pontoon was sinking. Some people were already in the water while others remained aboard. Anfinson said they tried to hand out life jackets and rescued a woman with a head injury. "It was scary," Anfinson said. "I don't want to see anybody in that situation."
Background on Alcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island, once a federal prison known for being inescapable due to strong ocean currents and cold Pacific waters, is now a tourist destination attracting over one million visits per year. It is located in San Francisco Bay about one mile (1.6 km) north of the city's shoreline, in an often windy area popular with sailboats and recreational vessels.
