7 from overturned boat rescued on Tomales Bay
A pleasure craft capsized in rough and stormy waters on Tomales Bay on Saturday afternoon, causing seven people to require rescue after being thrown into the icy cold.
According to a Marin County Fire Department post on Facebook, the incident happened at around 3 p.m. when a call came in that six adults and one child were in the water clinging to a capsized boat.
Five separate agencies, including the Marin and Sonoma County Fire Departments, the California Highway Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard responded to the call.
The rescue involved two helicopters, three rescue watercraft, a lifeboat, a safe boat, two fire engines and two ambulances.
The boaters were found holding onto the overturned vessel, which was mostly submerged. Crew on the rescue craft plucked them from the water and took them to Miller Boat Launch, located in Miller Park, Marshall. All seven were found to be suffering from cold exposure. Four victims were released after rescue personnel applied warming measures. Three were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.
A video posted to the fire department Facebook page showed coldlooking boaters being hustled across a parking lot to waiting rescue vehicles.
“The Marin County Fire Department would like to remind all boaters and coastal visitors that the waters in our area can be extremely hazardous,” the post concluded. “Please use caution and plan accordingly when visiting our unique and beautiful coastline.”
Separately, four people were rescued Sunday after their vessel capsized off the coast of San Francisco’s Ocean Beach.