A peaceful memorial gathering on the waters of San Francisco Bay turned into a desperate fight for survival on Tuesday afternoon after a pontoon boat carrying mostly family members sank near Alcatraz Island. The heartbreaking incident claimed one life, left three people missing, and triggered a massive overnight search involving helicopters, rescue boats, and dive teams.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene shortly after 3:30 p.m. after receiving an initial report of a boat fire. However, authorities later confirmed there was no evidence of a fire, shifting the focus entirely to a large-scale rescue operation.
When firefighters reached the vessel, they found the three-deck pontoon boat almost completely submerged about 600 yards from Alcatraz Island. The engine was still running, and fuel was leaking into the surrounding waters, creating additional hazards for rescue teams.
San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen said 16 people were rescued from the chilly waters, while three others remained unaccounted for as of Tuesday evening. The number of missing people was later revised from two to three after investigators interviewed witnesses.
“Right now we are in full rescue mode,” Crispen said, adding that three passengers who sustained injuries while escaping the sinking boat were taken to hospital. Officials expected all three to be discharged later that night.
One of the rescued passengers was pulled from the freezing bay alive but later died despite emergency medical efforts. A dog that had been onboard also did not survive the tragedy.
The victims were brought to Gashouse Cove Marina, where emotional scenes unfolded as survivors wrapped in blankets received medical attention. Television footage showed a man and woman being assisted into an ambulance, while a yellow tarp covered the body of the deceased on the dock.
Several nearby vessels joined the rescue efforts before emergency responders arrived. Aaron Anfinson, captain of the fishing boat Bass-Tub, told local media that his crew was sailing toward the Golden Gate Bridge through strong winds and choppy waters when another boater alerted them to the distressed pontoon vessel.
Initially believing the boat was on fire, Anfinson said his crew quickly changed course. By the time they reached the scene, the flames appeared to have gone out, but the pontoon was rapidly sinking. Some passengers had already entered the water, while others remained trapped onboard.
The crew immediately began distributing life jackets and focused first on rescuing an injured woman with a head wound. Using a swim ladder and life ring, they safely pulled her aboard.
“It was scary,” Anfinson recalled. “I don’t want to see anybody in that situation.”
Authorities believe the boat departed from an area near the St. Francis Yacht Club before the incident occurred.
The search for the three missing passengers continued through the night in the open waters west of the Golden Gate Bridge. Rescue efforts involved the U.S. Coast Guard, Oakland Police, San Francisco Fire Department, helicopters, dive teams, and multiple rescue vessels as officials worked against strong currents and cold Pacific waters surrounding the iconic Alcatraz Island.