On November 1, 2014 at 9:57 AM, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the US Coast Guard requesting assistance from our helicopter, Henry 1, with a boat capsized in the water. USCG reported that boat flipped over at Bodega Head and there was a person in the water.
The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit responded as well as the resident Deputy from Bodega Bay. Initially there were reports of four people unconscious in the water and one person on Bodega Rock, about a half mile west of Bodega Head.
Sonoma County Sheriff’s helicopter arrived and performed a 100-foot long line rescue and removed an adult man from Bodega Rock. The man was dressed in a t-shirt and jeans. He was not wearing a life vest. He had minor injuries -scrapes and abrasions presumably from the sharp rocks - and was very cold.
The USCG pulled four unresponsive people from the water. One was pronounced dead. Three others were transported on a USCG boat and a Bodega Bay Fire rescue boat. They went to the awaiting ambulances at the Coast Guard base in Bodega Bay, while en route CPR was performed on them. Regretfully, none of the four survived.
The sole survivor, identified as Phillip Sanchez, is a 66 year old resident of Bodega Bay. He was transported via ambulance to a hospital in Santa Rosa for treatment and evaluation. He was later interviewed by a Marine Unit Deputy who is conducting an investigation into the incident.
Sanchez said he was out today on the privately-owned 32 foot fishing boat. They left at 8:30 AM and were on their way back into Bodega after completing the day’s crabbing. They were underway at about 8 knots (approx. 10 mph) and on the west side of Bodega Rock. A wave hit the port side of the boat, flipped it and he was launched into the water. He swam toward Bodega Rock where he clung until rescued.
None of the people aboard were wearing life vests, although they were present and available on the boat. It is not believed that alcohol or drugs played any part in the incident. The four deceased adults (one female and three males) are not being identified until their respective families are notified.
This investigation is on-going by the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit. We will provide updates as we confirm details and information.
case number 141101-011
Prepared by Sergeant Cecile Focha
Media Relations/ PIO
