David Bridges
A tragic incident occurred near Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay on Tuesday, July 15, when a boat capsized while en route to a memorial service. As a result, one individual has lost their life, and three others remain unaccounted for. Reports from SFGATE indicate that the vessel involved was a three-story, 49-foot cabin cruiser named Volare.
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One Fatality Reported Following Boat Capsizing Near Alcatraz
One person has been confirmed dead and three individuals are still missing after the unfortunate capsizing of the boat, according to San Francisco Fire Department Lt. Mariano Elias.
Lt. Elias stated that the vessel encountered distress and sank at approximately 3:37 p.m. Initial reports suggested that the boat caught fire; however, San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen clarified that the capsizing occurred due to rough seas.
“They were hit by a wave or took on water,” Crispen explained. “And the boat capsized.”
At the time of the incident, the boat was transporting 20 passengers to a memorial service. By the time emergency responders arrived, only the top deck of the three-story vessel was visible above the water.
“Several people had jumped from the boat,” Elias reported. Witnesses initially mistook steam from the vessel’s engine for fire.
Victim Found in Water Identified as Distressed Individual
A 79-year-old man named Clifford Joseph Boisa was discovered in the water in distress and later succumbed to his injuries. WPDE has confirmed his identity.
Despite attempts to revive Boisa through CPR, he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. a dog was found deceased at the scene. Three other individuals suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital.
Most passengers on the boat were believed to be family members; however, authorities have not disclosed their names or genders. According to NBC News, all passengers were adults.
Life jackets and floating devices were available on the boat, but it remains unclear how many passengers were utilizing them at the time of the incident.
Video Evidence Captures the Moment the Boat Sank
The National Desk released video footage showing the boat as it sank, along with clips of the ongoing search for the three missing passengers.
Lt. Elias mentioned that divers were unable to search the wreckage because it sank to the deepest part of the San Francisco Bay.
“The boat is currently resting 120 feet at the bottom of the bay,” he stated.
The Coast Guard continues to search areas where survivors may have attempted to swim to safety.
The San Francisco Police Department is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the capsizing incident.
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