Memorial service turns deadly on the San Francisco Bay

What was supposed to be a solemn gathering to honor a deceased loved one turned into a disaster on the San Francisco Bay Tuesday afternoon when a boat capsized, leaving one person dead and three still missing. The incident unfolded just after 3:30 p.m. about 600 yards from Alcatraz Island, a former penitentiary turned tourist attraction. A 50-foot, three-deck pontoon cabin cruiser named the Velari was carrying 20 people, most of them family members participating in a memorial service, when it was reportedly struck by a wave and capsized, KTLA sister station KRON4 reported. First responders encountered a chaotic scene, finding the massive vessel largely submerged, its motor still running and fuel leaking into the bay. Nearby boats rushed to help pull passengers from the frigid water. Aaron Anfinson, captain of the Bass-Tub, told the San Francisco Chronicle he was heading toward the Golden Gate Bridge when he was flagged down by a smaller boat pointing toward what initially looked like a fire. By the time his vessel reached the scene, there were no flames, but the Velari was rapidly going under. Anfinson's crew began throwing life rings and lowering ladders to pull people out. “It was scary,” Anfinson said. “I don’t want to see anybody in that situation.” Emergency crews, led by the S.F. Police Department’s Marine Unit and the U.S. Coast Guard, ultimately rescued 16 survivors from the frigid water. One man was pulled from the bay in severe distress and given CPR, but he was later pronounced dead. A dog on board the vessel also died. The survivors were taken to Gashouse Cove Marina. 13 of the rescued passengers were uninjured and taken to a family reunification center, while three others were hospitalized for injuries sustained in the capsize and were expected to recover. San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen said that despite early reports of a fire, investigators have found no evidence of flames on board the vessel, which is believed to have launched from near the St. Francis Yacht Club. As of Wednesday morning, the rescue and recovery operation remained a full-scale effort as helicopters, divers and surface vessels expanded their search into the open ocean west of the Golden Gate Bridge. Local officials, including San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, publicly expressed gratitude to the multiagency response team while urging the public to keep the families in their thoughts. “I want to express my condolences to the family members of the deceased,” Lurie said Tuesday evening. “This is an all-hands-on-deck search and hopefully rescue.” Authorities are asking anyone who believes they have a family member involved in the incident to contact the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS for information and support.