Community Corner
Belmont Man on Fishing Boat that Capsizes, Leaves One Dead
Chartered ship was sold out for four-night trip. Thirty-seven passengers have been rescued or swam ashore.
A chartered ship on a Fourth of July fishing trip out of Dana Point was capsized by two rogue waves in Mexico's Sea of Cortez early Sunday, leaving one person confirmed dead and at least eight missing, U.S. and Mexican authorities reported this morning.
As of noon Monday, approximately 37 people had been pulled from the water or swam ashore as the U.S. Coast Guard rescue helicopter returned to San Diego to refuel so it could resume the search for survivors. The Mexican Navy is also involved in the search.
According to media reports, survivor Michael Ng of Belmont said the boat was less than two miles (three kilometers) from shore when it capsized and that he other fishermen stayed afloat and swam with the help of a cooler. They were swimming toward shore when he, a fellow survivor and a cook were rescued by another fishing boat.
Find out what's happening in Belmontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The ship, called the Erik, was sold out for a four-night trip to the fertile fishing grounds off Baja California. Most of the passengers were from San Francisco, the Coast Guard reported. The Erik is a "mother ship,'' with supplies, sleeping berths and a galley for a fleet of panga boats that take fishermen to spots in the northern end of the Sea of Cortez. Trips are offered by a Dana Point company called Jig Stop Tours and are popular with Southern California residents.
The vessel sank near Isla San Luis, Baja California, with approximately 50 people aboard around 2:30 a.m. Sunday, according to the Coast Guard. Most passengers swam to shore, and some were rescued by other boats.
Find out what's happening in Belmontwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Mexican Navy searched throughout the day with surface and air crews, and officers called the U.S. Coast Guard Sunday evening for helicopter assistance, Coast Guard officials said. A MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter lifted off from the San Diego Coast Guard station at 6:30 a.m.
One foot waves and good visibility mean "fairly decent conditions'' for searching, said Petty Officer 2d. Class Henry Dunphy. Chances for survival "depend on several factors, such as did they have access to lifejackets and were they wearing them, are there any flotation devices or other survival gear present," Dunphy said. Water temperatures there are warm.
—City News Service contributed to this report.
Related Topics: , , , , and
