California Coast Guard Suspends Search for Four Missing Boaters After Tragic Capsizing Incident

 

The United States Coast Guard has called off a vast search operation for four missing boaters in northern California after a boat carrying three adults and three children capsized over the weekend. This difficult decision was made after search crews located an 11-year-old boy alive and recovered the body of a teenager, according to officials on Monday.

The coastguard began an extensive search on land, sea, and air Saturday evening after receiving a distress call about the overdue boat. The 21-foot vessel, carrying a family of five and one friend, had set off from Bodega Bay in Sonoma County, about 60 miles north of San Francisco, on a crabbing trip. They were expected to return to shore by 7 p.m., but when they failed to show up, a concerned family member alerted authorities, Chief Petty Officer Levi Read said.

On Sunday, search teams found the 11-year-old boy on South Salmon Creek Beach, north of Bodega Bay. He was wearing a life vest and was rushed to a hospital, where he was stabilized. During questioning, the boy informed first responders that the boat had capsized. Hours after the boy’s rescue, a teenage boy’s body was found in the water, Read confirmed.

The group had set out from Corning, a town approximately 170 miles north of San Francisco, to enjoy the first day of the recreational Dungeness crab season. The blue and white Bayliner boat they were traveling in, however, faced unforeseen dangers that led to the tragedy.

The search operation involved personnel from eight local, state, and federal agencies and covered more than 2,100 square miles of ocean. Chief Warrant Officer Michael L. Zapawa, who coordinated the search, explained the tough decision to halt the search. “The decision to suspend a search is always difficult to make and never done lightly,” he said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the missing boaters during this incredibly difficult time.”

While the search has been suspended, officials noted that it could resume if new information arises that could help narrow down the search area. For now, the Sonoma County community mourns with the grieving families, awaiting any updates that may provide closure in the wake of this heartbreaking incident.