Survivors Of Tahoe Boating Tragedy Wore Life Jackets

LAKE TAHOE, CA — Two women who survived Saturday's Lake Tahoe boating accident that killed eight people were wearing life jackets when they went into the cold, choppy water, authorities announced.

Amy Friduss, 40, and her mother, Julie Lindsay, 65, both from New York, were able to reach safety after the 27-foot Chris Craft boat they were riding in as part of a birthday celebration overturned when it was caught in a storm.

All 10 passengers went into the water, and only Friduss and Lindsay survived.

"This past Saturday, a sudden and destructive storm blew over Lake Tahoe, causing mayhem and a large amount of property damage. Unfortunately, it also was the cause of multiple fatalities, as a boat carrying 10 passengers was capsized by the 8 foot waves and strong winds, throwing all 10 passengers into the water," the Washoe County Sheriff's Department announced. "The two passengers who were wearing Personal Flotation Devices were rescued by responding emergency personnel and transported to the hospital. Sadly, the remaining eight passengers drowned.”

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Lindsay's husband and Friduss' father Stephen Lindsay, 63, was among those killed in the accident.

The remaining deceased were identified Tuesday morning by the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office as:

• Joshua Antony Pickles, 37, of San Francisco;
• Paula Bozinovich, 71, of Redwood City;
• Terry Pickles, 73, of Redwood City;
• Peter Bayes, 72, of Lincoln;
• Timothy O’Leary, 71, of Auburn;
• Theresa Giullari, 66, of Honeoye, New York;
• James Guck, 69, of Honeoye, New York;

"This incident is an unimaginable tragedy for the family and friends of the people involved, and the thoughts and prayers of everyone at the Washoe County Sheriff's Office are with them," the department posted on Facebook after announcing the recovery of the final two victims, who were found 300-feet down.

According to authorities, the day started out sunny with a light breeze, but abruptly turned stormy a few hours later with wind gusts reaching 35 mph and wave crests 8-feet high. The waves flooded the boat's engine, leaving the boaters at the mercy of the storm.

A park ranger and lifeguard found the victims and pulled Lindsay and her daughter out of the water.

The life jackets may have been key to the mother and daughter's survival.

In June, the average temperature of the lake hovers below 60 degrees, according to Travel Tahoe. That's cold enough to trigger cold water shock, which can literally take your breath away. Humans have a cold water gasp reflex, an involuntary gasp triggered when someone is suddenly immersed in cold water. Many cold lake drowning victims die within a minute of jumping into the water because the gasp underwater causes them to aspirate. The reflexive gasping and hyperventilating can last for several minutes.

“Roughly 20 percent of cold water shock victims die in the first minute, due to a 'gasp reflex,' when a sharp intake of breath introduces water into the lungs," A NOAA spokesperson said.

This "uncontrolled rapid breathing" can quickly create a drowning emergency if you inhale water and cannot stay afloat, according to NOAA. “Wearing a life jacket significantly increases the chances of being located and saved."

According to a GoFundMe fundraiser created for the survivors, "physically, both mother and daughter are on the mend, but are dealing with the heartbreaking loss of their beloved husband and father, best friends and dear family who perished."

The fundraiser seeks to raise $50,000, to help the family with funeral and living expenses in the aftermath of the tragedy.

"Those of us who know Amy or Julie know they are always the first to step up for others," according to the GoFundMe page. "Amy is a loving and devoted nurse practitioner who, in her spare time, treats people living in homeless encampments, making sure they have medical supplies that are necessary for survival. She is the most giving person anyone could know. Julie would do anything for anyone, and would quite literally give the shirt off her back if someone needed it. Her bright and shining personality could light up a room."

Patch Staffer Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.