9 Saved, Including 8 Teen Girls, From Sinking Vessel In SF Bay: FD

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — In a dramatic rescue Saturday, nine people, including eight teen girls, were saved from a sinking sailboat in the San Francisco Bay, fire officials told Patch.

According to Lt. Mariano Elias of the San Francisco Fire Department, a call came in right after 2 p.m. regarding a "capsized boat in distress" near Crissy Field, in the San Francisco Bay.

The teens were participating in a high school sailing program. All the girls were wearing life jackets when the Coast Guard and the San Francisco Fire Department arrived, Elias said. While rescuers helped the girls off the boat, the captain decided to stay onboard, not wanting to leave his boat, Elias said.

Fire officials left their smaller rescue boat with the captain until a tow boat arrived.

Reflecting on the perilous sight, Elias said: "The boat was under water. The mast had tipped onto its side and the captain was hanging on to the ropes."

Fire officials stayed with him until his boat was upright and towed to safety, Elias said.

Thankfully, Elias said, "no one was hurt — maybe just a little scared." Certainly, he said, the scene was one he would never forget. "To see people standing on a sinking boat, it's quite the thing," he said.

(Courtesy SFFDPIO)

Elias said it's not yet known why the boat was taking on water, but added that the winds pick up near the Golden Gate Bridge.

(CourtesySFFDPIO)

"I'm happy we got there to help the girls — and the captain, too," he said.