16 rescued from Pacific ocean after boat capsizes off Baja

A U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer pulled 16 people from the Pacific Ocean on the early morning of October 16 after their boat capsized near the coast of Baja, Mexico. Eleven others have not been found. Josh Law, a 24-year-old swimmer, was the only person in the water during the two-hour operation. He described the scene as chaotic, with six to eight-foot waves and complete darkness. Law relied on the helicopter's searchlight to locate survivors who were scattered across a wide area of the sea.

The emergency call came at approximately 1 a.m. from a vessel sinking near Ensenada. The alarm activated the Coast Guard Air Station in Ventura, California. Pilot Lieutenant Miyako Miller prepared the helicopter for a flight of more than 250 miles to the crash site. Miller navigated using night vision goggles and the stars, as there was no moonlight. The crew spotted a small light in the distance, which turned out to be debris and survivors in the water. The helicopter hovered about 40 feet above the ocean surface to deploy Law.

Law lowered himself into the water using a harness and cable. He swam toward the survivors, who were clinging to each other, buoys, and wreckage. Some wore life jackets with small lights. Law used a technique called the buddy tow to pull survivors toward the helicopter. He signaled to the flight mechanic to lower a basket, placing each person inside one by one. The crew then hoisted the basket to the aircraft. Law’s dry suit filled with water up to his knees, adding weight as he fought the current. He worked until his arms were exhausted, but he kept moving because the survivors were in hypothermic conditions.

The helicopter landed at the Coast Guard base in San Diego due to low fuel levels. Ambulances were waiting on the tarmac. Law treated three people for serious injuries during the flight, including bleeding that the Coast Guard described as compatible with shark bites. U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents processed the survivors at a hospital. Officials said that nearly half of the rescued individuals have already been returned to Mexico. All 16 survivors are Mexican nationals, according to the Mexican consulate.

The search for the missing 11 people continued for two more days. The Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy, and Mexican authorities searched more than 2,441 square miles of ocean over 89 hours. The search concluded on Sunday evening with no further survivors found. The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the capsize, including whether the boat suffered mechanical failure or was driven out to sea. Federal agents are interviewing the survivors to determine the boat's origin and destination.