One individual has passed away, while three individuals are unaccounted for and 16 people have been rescued close to Alcatraz Island in San Francisco during a memorial service for family members.
Emergency services responded to a situation where a three-deck pontoon vessel was discovered nearly submerged in San Francisco waters. The vessel’s motor was still running and leaking fuel upon arrival, according to San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen.
The boat was primarily carrying family members participating in a memorial service as authorities worked to locate the missing individuals in the open sea. The search operation, conducted on the western side of the Golden Gate Bridge, involved divers, helicopters, and vessels.
Initially, two individuals were reported missing, but this number increased to three after witness statements were gathered. San Francisco Fire Chief Crispen stated that the focus was on rescue efforts, with three injured individuals transported to a hospital for treatment, expected to be released later that evening.
Rescue footage depicted boats dispatched to the site of the partially submerged vessel. Although the incident was initially reported as a fire, Mr. Crispen clarified that the fire service had no evidence of such a scenario.
The deceased individual was responsive when retrieved from the water but later succumbed, along with a dog aboard the vessel.
All rescued individuals were taken to Gashouse Cove Marina in San Francisco. Alcatraz Island, once a notorious federal prison renowned for its difficult escape due to strong currents and cold waters, now draws over a million visitors annually as a tourist attraction.
Situated about a mile north of San Francisco’s shoreline in the windy San Francisco Bay area, Alcatraz Island is frequented by sailboats and recreational vessels. Captain Aaron Anfinson of the Bass-Tub recounted navigating through windy and choppy waters towards the Golden Gate Bridge when alerted by a smaller vessel about a pontoon boat in distress.
Upon reaching the scene, the Bass-Tub crew found the pontoon sinking, with some individuals already in the water and others on board. Efforts were made to distribute life jackets, with one woman sustaining a head injury.
Anfinson’s crew prioritized rescuing the injured woman, deploying a swim ladder and a life ring for her retrieval. Anfinson described the situation as alarming, emphasizing the urgency of aiding individuals in distress.
Fire Lieutenant Mariano Elias described the vessel as a “pontoon pleasure boat,” located approximately 600 yards from Alcatraz, with the emergency call received shortly after 3:30 pm. The vessel was believed to have departed from the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, although the club had no immediate information on the incident.
Assistance in the rescue operation was also provided by the Coast Guard and Oakland police, as mentioned by Lt. Elias.