NEED TO KNOW
- Six people are dead and two remain missing after a boat capsized on Lake Tahoe on Saturday, June 21, according to the U.S. Coast Guard
- The 27-foot Chris-Craft boat capsized in the vicinity of D.L. Bliss State Park at Lake Tahoe at around 3:00 p.m. local time
- The boat allegedly capsized due to “a large swell” amid strong winds
Six people have died and two are missing after a boat capsized on Lake Tahoe.
At approximately 3 p.m. local time on Saturday, June 21, response teams received a report “of 10 people in the water.” They had been passengers on a 27-foot gold Chris-Craft boat, which capsized near D.L. Bliss State Park on Lake Tahoe, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) stated in a news release.
The vessel “reportedly capsized due to a large swell,” the USCG announced, per the release.Six people are confirmed dead and two others were transported to a local hospital.
“The search for two missing people is still ongoing,” the Coast Guard said. Their identities have not been released at this time.
United States Coast Guard
At the time the boat capsized, the weather was allegedly 30 knot winds and 6-8 foot swell, per the release. The Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe, California State Parks and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office (EDSO) responded to the scene.
A seasonal lifeguard and ranger rescued two people and placed them onto nearby rocks and performed CPR after spotting them in the water, South Tahoe Now reported, citing the USCG.
“As the Coast Guard arrived, they saw another person in the water, and the lifeguard swam to assist. The person in the water and the lifeguard were pulled onto the Coast Guard boat and transported to Lester Beach. EMS arrived at the beach, but that person was pronounced deceased,” the USCG told the outlet.
In footage obtained by South Tahoe Nowboats are seen in rough water amid strong winds. Witnesses told the outlet that at around 3:00 p.m. local time, the wind “suddenly came from the north, creating eight to ten-foot troughs.”
Boat Captain Joby Cefaludes described this as “worse than 30-foot waves on the sea.” Cefalu set up a triage at the Tahoe Keys Marina office to help victims, some of whom reportedly had hypothermia, per South Tahoe Now.
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According to the outlet, an EDSO helicopter and USCG airplane were reportedly searching for the missing people in the area at 9:00 p.m. local time.
The EDSO Search and Rescue and EDSO Dive Team will resume search operations on the morning of Sunday, June 22, the EDSO stated in a news release.
PEOPLE has contacted the USCG and EDSO for comment.
