Three Spend Hours Treading Water After Boat Sinks Off La Jolla

A man and two teenage boys were hospitalized after being recovered by a commercial fishing vessel more than three hours after their fishing boat capsized and sank Saturday, the San Diego Coast Guard said.

At 2:50 p.m. the New Sea Forth, a commercial fishing boat, discovered the three men treading water in the ocean about 1 1/2 to 2 miles off the coast of La Jolla Cove, U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Jarrad Pellerin said.

“The three men, ages 12, 18 and 46, were out shark fishing in a 21-foot Benber Console when the winds and waves caused their boat to capsize and they ended up in the water,” Pellerin said. “They got spotted by the commercial fishing boat which picked them up.”

San Diego Lifeguard Lt. John Everhart said the three men were transported to UCSD Medical Center for treatment.

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

KFMB-TV News 8 reported the 18-year-old member of the rescued trio had ceased breathing and had to be resuscitated by lifeguards employing CPR.

Everhart said the boat the three men were in capsized about 11 a.m.

-City News Service