At least one individual has tragically lost their life following the overturning of a pontoon boat, prompting an urgent rescue operation by emergency services for all occupants.
The incident occurred in the waters of the San Francisco Bay, situated between the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island on a Tuesday afternoon. Amid the chaos, two individuals were unaccounted for, while 16 others were successfully rescued from the distressed vessel.
San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen provided details of the incident, revealing that rescue crews discovered a three-deck pontoon vessel carrying a total of 19 people near Alcatraz Island. The vessel had capsized, submerging mostly underwater, initially prompting reports of a fire, which were later dismissed.
Despite some sustaining injuries from the water impact, there were no reports of burns among the rescued individuals, as confirmed by Crispen. Tragically, one person succumbed to the ordeal after being retrieved from the water alongside the 16 survivors.
Search efforts for the missing persons continued relentlessly with the deployment of divers, helicopters, and 11 specialized vessels in a comprehensive rescue operation. Crispen emphasized, “Right now we are in full rescue mode.”
All rescued individuals were swiftly transported to Gashouse Cove Marina, a local small craft harbor in San Francisco for medical evaluation and support.
Fire Lt. Mariano Elias disclosed that the distressed vessel, described as a “pontoon pleasure boat,” was approximately 600 yards (about 550 meters) away from Alcatraz Island when the distress call was received shortly after 3:30 p.m.
Notably, the ill-fated boat was believed to have departed from the vicinity of the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco, as per Crispen’s statement.
Footage captured by a local Fox station showcased the prompt response of the Fire Department’s boat in rescuing individuals from the partially submerged vessel, surrounded by floating objects from the boat.
Collaborative efforts involving the Coast Guard and Oakland police were instrumental in aiding the rescue mission, as highlighted by Elias.