The vessel, which was carrying 20 people, sank in San Francisco Bay on Tuesday, July 14
Credit: Heather Diehl/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- The Coast Guard suspended the search for three missing passengers on Wednesday, July 15, after a boat taking part in a memorial service capsized in San Francisco Bay on Tuesday, July 14
- The boat had been carrying 20 friends and family, as well as a dog
- Rescue teams searched over 1,200 miles before suspending efforts, with three passengers still missing and one confirmed dead
The Coast Guard has suspended the search for three missing passengers after a boat taking part in a memorial service capsized in San Francisco Bay on Tuesday, July 14.
PEOPLE previously reported that a three-deck, 50-foot cabin cruiser sank between the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island at around 3:35 p.m. local time. The boat had been carrying 20 friends and family members who were gathered to scatter the ashes of a loved one, per the Associated Press. This was part of a memorial service, according to NBC Bay Area and ABC News.
While one person was confirmed dead, 16 were rescued, with three of them being hospitalized. The deceased victim was later identified by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner as Clifford Joseph Boisa, 79, per ABC News and NBC Bay Area.
Credit: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty
On Wednesday, July 15, the Coast Guard suspended the search for the three missing passengers, according to the Associated Press, CBS News and NBC Bay Area.
“Suspending a search is one of the hardest parts of our job and our condolences are with the families of all involved,” U.S. Coast Guard Captain Jared S. Toczko said in a statement, per the Associated Press.
Toczko said that rescue teams had searched over 1,200 miles and continued their efforts until the sun went down on Wednesday, July 15, per NBC Bay Area.
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The captain went on to say that there was a possibility that the missing passengers could still be alive, adding that they could have become trapped inside the vessel, the outlet and the Associated Press reported.
“We do know individuals were in the main deck and potentially below deck,” he said. Witnesses also stated how they could see trapped passengers knocking on glass windows, per the Associated Press.
“It was like Titanic in real life,” rescuer Justin Marceline told the outlet. “There was stuff everywhere. People were banging on the glass.”
The U.S. Coast Guard said officials will work on recovering the boat, which could take time due to the depth of the water, according to NBC Bay Area.
San Francisco Fire Lieutenant Mariano Elias previously told PEOPLE that the boat sank at a depth of 120 feet below the waterline.
Although it was initially reported that there was a fire, Elias confirmed to PEOPLE that there was no fire and that it was the engine’s steam hitting the water.
Ralph Boisa, who was not onboard, told the Associated Press that his extended family and close friends were on his younger brother’s boat on Tuesday, July 14, to celebrate the life of his daughter, who died in 1995 in her 30s.
Boisa confirmed to the outlet that Clifford Joseph Boisa, who was pulled out of the water and pronounced dead, was his older brother. He added that Clifford’s dog also died in the tragedy.
Credit: Heather Diehl/Getty
Boisa went on to say that the three missing passengers are his sister Carol, Clifford’s wife Jackie, and his daughter’s friend, per the Associated Press.
“We’ve gone through a lot of tragedy over the years,” Boisa, who was unable to make the trip, told the outlet.
PEOPLE has reached out to the U.S. Coast Guard and the San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for comment.
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