San Francisco boat rescue near Alcatraz: 1 killed, 3 missing

SAN FRANCISCO - A Tuesday memorial service on a cabin cruiser boat took a tragic turn when the ship, with 20 people aboard, sank in the San Francisco Bay, officials say. 

A 79-year-old man is dead and three others are missing as the search and rescue effort continues into the following day. 

San Francisco boat rescue near Alcatraz Island

What we know:

Officials with the San Francisco Fire Department initially reported the incident around 4 p.m. as a boat fire with five to seven victims. 

Shortly after, they said 19 people were on the boat and that two were missing. 

However, as the evening wore on, Fire Chief Dean Crispen said they were able to more accurately update those figures based on witness accounts.

Thirteen people were rescued and taken onshore while three others were taken to a local hospital, officials said. 

The conditions of those three people have stabilized. Officials said they are expected to be released from the hospital tonight. 

Speaking at an afternoon news conference, Chief Crispen said at 3:35 p.m. there were reports of a vessel on fire about 600 yards from Alcatraz. 

By the time rescuers arrived, two of the three decks of a 50-foot cabin cruiser were already underwater. 

A little after 4 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard said they were in the initial stages of a search and rescue effort. 

SkyFOX quickly arrived on the scene as the boat appeared to be taking on water. By 4:38 p.m. the boat was completely submerged underwater. 

"This was mostly family members of one another who were on this vessel," Chief Crispen said in a Tuesday night update. "Our understanding was there was some kind of memorial service that they were engaging in. That's why they were using this particular vessel. They were hit by a wave or took on water and the boat capsized."

Crispen said officials heard the boat had launched from the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco's Marina. 

Fire officials said the boat, Volare, is based out of Stockton. 

Investigators have not found any evidence of a fire despite the initial dispatch. 

Chief Crispen said there were witness accounts of rough seas that may have led to the vessel taking on water before it turned over in the bay.  

Search and rescue effort 

A combination of first responders included the U.S. Coast Guard, along with the Oakland Police Department, which helped conduct transport of those who were rescued. 

Chief Crispen said a full marine fire response was initiated. 

"We declared a yellow and then a red alert," he said. 

A yellow alert is for when there is the potential for more than five victims. A red alert is when more than five victims are confirmed.

The chief said in addition to first responders, private boaters also helped rescue people from the water. 

Others who were stranded on the upper level of the sinking boat had to be rescued. 

Among the first responders, Crispen said the SF Fire Dept.'s marine unit was first to the scene. That unit saw a man in severe distress in the water. 

"They placed him on their boat, initiated CPR, brought him into Gas House Cove right here and this individual was declared deceased at that point," he said.

The man was later identified by the San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner as Clifford Joseph Boisa, 79, of Sutter County.

Crispen said three people were taken to California Pacific Medical Center on Van Ness Avenue for treatment.  

The thirteen people who were rescued were placed in a family reunification center in a concourse building at Fort Mason. 

Human Services Agency and the American Red Cross are providing services to those individuals. 

Rescuers have been unable to locate three individuals who are still missing. Chief Crispsen said an active search is still underway.

"We have 11 vessels on the water conducting that search," Crispen said. He said the search would continue for hours until they made sure they found those who went missing. 

Divers searched the surface of the water as helicopters searched from above. Sonar, thermal imaging and tide predicting technology is also being used in the search and rescue effort. 

Few details about those on board were released by officials. 

Crispen said it is not believed that any children were onboard. 

"All appear to be adults. Unfortunately, there was one dog that was declared deceased that was on the boat as well," the chief said.  

Officials have not said if those missing are male or female. 

Mayor Daniel Lurie spoke at the afternoon news conference. He offered his condolences to the family members of the deceased and thanked first responders. 

A missing person number for this rescue response was announced: 1-800-REDCROS (1-800-733-2767) option 4.

San Francisco weather conditions

Dig deeper:

The Bay Area is under a coastal flood advisory, which continues at least through Thursday.

KTVU Meteorologist Roberta Gonzales notes that while the weather on the Bay did not appear to be extreme on Tuesday, south-west winds were at about 5 to10 knots and increasing, which created choppy waters. 

The water temperature near Alcatraz is only about 61 degrees, which can quickly become a life-threatening situation for anyone thrown into the water, Gonzales said. 

The search area is expected to drift east with the tide tonight. The SFFD said search efforts were ongoing as of 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

What's next:

Fire officials said they will have their next availability on the search and rescue effort at 6 a.m. on Wednesday. 

This is developing, check back for updates 

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