Boaters Rescued from Capsized Vessel

Crews encountered dangerous conditions from Hurricane Paul off the coast of Baja

Dangerous conditions caused a capsized boat and a hazardous rescue for emergency crews off Point Loma.

San Diego lifeguards, Harbor police and the USCG responded to the distress call from a vessel along the surf line near the Point Loma Lighthouse around 8 a.m.

A man and a woman were going out this morning when their motor boat lost power. They began having trouble with their vessel, and the boat headed into the rocks. 

"The first boats on scene said it was pretty rough," said Harbor police Lt. Steve Byrd.

There were two swimmers put into the water and the boat capsized just as the emergency crews reached it Byrd said.

The swells were 6 to 10 feet and even swamped Mission Bay lifeguard’s boat. Harbor police had to tow the lifeguard's boat back into the harbor according to Byrd.

β€œThis one was a little more hazardous because of the hurricane we have in Mexico. The conditions were pretty rough, was pretty ragged and pretty dangerous for our crews and for Mission Bay lifeguards as well,” Byrd said.

The victims were found in the water and airlifted to U.S. Coast Guard headquarters on Shelter Island. The man was uninjured and the woman suffered a broken toe according to Byrd.

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