Capsized Boat Recovered Off Black’s Beach

Three men fished out of the cold Pacific Ocean after their small boat capsized continued to recover from hypothermia Sunday, as lifeguards credited the crew and passengers of a half-day sportfishing boat for saving them.

Crew onboard the New Seaforth out of Mission Bay scooped up three nearly-drowned fisherman after their small fishing boat capsized off La Jolla Saturday afternoon. Deckhands and three registered nurses, out for a fishing excursion, used CPR to keep one of the victims alive.

The men had treaded water in the 63-degree brine, battered by winds and whitecaps, for more than three hours after their 21-foot Benber Console capsized some time after 11 a.m. Saturday.

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Jarrad Pellerin said the three men had been out fishing when the winds and waves caused their boat to capsize and they ended up in the water.

One of the three men was unconscious in the water as the New Seaforth pulled up, and crew members and passengers employed CPR until a San Diego Lifeguard rescue boat arrived, Lt. John Everhart said.

After being brought ashore the three men were transported to a local hospital for treatment.

“One was in serious shape, all three were potentially hypothermic because they’d spent so much time in the water,” Everhart said.

As the men recovered Sunday, their fishing boat was spotted about 1 1/2 to 2 miles off the north end of Black’s Beach by a person who called lifeguards, San Diego Lifeguard Lt. Andy Lerum said.

“The boat was floating on the surface, bow up, with the engine down,” he said.

Lerum said lifeguards responding were able to right the boat and de-water it before towing it to Mission Bay.

-City News Service