SAN FRANCISCO — Coast Guard crews have suspended the active search for two people from an overdue pleasure craft near Bodega Bay.
Friday at 7:30 p.m., responders at Coast Guard Sector San Francisco received a report of a 21-foot pleasure craft with four people aboard that was overdue from a fishing trip near Bodega Bay. Coast Guard Station Bodega Bay launched a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat rescue crew, and Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco launched a helicopter rescue crew to search for the overdue vessel. Coast Guard Cutter Hawksbill, an 87-foot patrol boat, also responded searching throughout the night.
Early Saturday, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, Marin County Fire Department, National Park Service, Bodega Bay Fire Department, Marin County Sheriff’s Office, Marin County Water Rescue Team, California State Park Rangers and the Tomales Volunteer Fire Company joined Coast Guard crews for continuous searching.
At approximately 10 a.m. Saturday, a person found to be unconscious was found on the shoreline of Bird Rock. A second unconscious person was found shortly after in the water near boat debris. They were recovered and transferred to the Marin County Sheriffs Department. After an extensive multi-agency search effort for the remaining two persons in the water, the search was suspended Saturday at 7:26 p.m.
Shoreside search efforts will continue Sunday by the National Park Service and Marin County Fire Department. The Coast Guard will coordinate with the National Park Service as they conduct an investigation of the incident.
“Suspending a search is never an easy decision and is only done after intense scrutiny and evaluation of search efforts as a whole,” said Capt. Greg Stump, commander, Sector San Francisco. “We offer our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the missing crew.”