One dead, three missing after pontoon capsizes near Alcatraz

A pontoon boat carrying about 20 passengers capsized near Alcatraz Island on Tuesday afternoon, resulting in one fatality and three missing persons. The San Francisco Fire Department received the distress call at 15:37 local time and dispatched a marine unit, which found a man in the water and attempted CPR before he was pronounced dead after reaching shore. Three other passengers were treated for injuries at a local hospital and were reported to be in stable condition. The remaining 13 occupants returned safely without injury.

Fire Department Chief Dean Crispen said the vessel, a 50-foot cabin cruiser, was taking on water in rough seas and overturned, contrary to earlier reports that suggested a fire on board. A joint search and rescue effort by the fire department and the U.S. Coast Guard is expected to continue through the evening.

"Every time we had to grab a person, each one of them, either they were exhausted or they were frantic and were flailing," said longshoreman Justin Marceline, who helped rescue passengers alongside fisherman Mike Montoya.

Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the incident, but witnesses described the conditions as turbulent, contributing to the vessel’s capsizing.