Survivors attacked by sharks in Pacific Ocean as boat capsizes off Baja California coast: Here’s what happened as search called off after 89 hours

Several survivors of the boat capsizing incident off of Baja California coast were treated for suspected shark bites. According to the US Coast Guard officials, quoted by USA Today at least three of the 16 rescued individuals “sustained injuries consistent with shark bites” after the boat which departed from Mexico capsized.

The Coast Guard has called off their search for 11 individuals still missing after the incident that occurred on Friday, October 16. The officials said, “Several of the individuals rescued were suffering from severe injuries consistent with shark bites, and the Coast Guard provided life-saving first aid”. In a statement on Saturday, October 17, authorities added that the survivors had been taken to San Diego and are being treated at a hospital there.

What exactly happened?

According to the Coast Guard’s Southwest District, watchstanders in the San Diego sector received a radio distress signal at about 1 am on October 16. The signal was from someone onboard the boat, reporting that the vessel was sinking about 140 miles west of Mexico’s Ensenada.

The Coast Guard’s Lt. Santiago Tamburini said that search crews were deployed to the area immediately after the mayday signal. According to The New York Post, a rescue helicopter, from the Helicopter Sea Combat squadron 23, reached the site about two hours later. The Coast Guard’s search crew took nearly 90 minutes to rescue 16 people from the ocean, Taburini further said. The boat had disappeared under water till the aircraft reached the coordinates, with people floating among the debris. The search operation also involved a swimmer rescue, he added.

According to the assistant fire chief for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, nearly 60 fire and medical staff responded to the incident. Those rescued were transported to local hospitals through 13 ambulances after the rescue.

Search and rescue crews from the Ventura and Sacramento Air Station worked on the operation to illuminate the area and rescue people, according to the Coast Guard. The crews were joined by the US Coast Guard’s vessel Active, which is popularly nicknamed ‘The Li’l Tough Guy’. The USS Kingville vessel also joined the operation.

There has been no update on the information of the survivors’ medical conditions as of October 18, according to USA Today. According to local reports received by the Coast Guard, there were 27 people on board the vessel. All of those rescued were Mexican nationals, the Mexican consulate in San Diego confirmed to The Associated Press.

Rescuers found floating seats, other debris from the site

The search and rescue crews found multiple floating seats and debris, believed to be from the boat that capsized during their operation. Tamburini said, “To my knowledge, all we found was debris and certain floating seats that are starting to give us a better idea of what vessel it may have been.” He added that the Coast Guard could not confirm whether the vessel was part of an enterprise or a recreational or commercial fishing boat.

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Boat capsized in an area with frequent smuggler presence

The boat capsized in an area that is frequented by smugglers which is not in US waters, The New York Post reported citing Coast Guard officials. The area is also a popular destination for fishing and recreational boating.

The Coast Guard late on Sunday, October 19, called off their search for the missing. The search continued for a combined 89 hours and covered over 2,441 miles. Captain Joseph Meuse said, “Suspending a search is never easy, and this was an exceptionally dynamic case, far offshore.” The incident remains under a federal investigation, the Coast Guard added.

The Coast Guard and Navy had been continuously searching the area for other survivors. They used multiple boats and aircraft. The Mexican Navy is also assisting in the operations.