Boat

Russian boat disaster death toll rises

13.07.11

The Bulgaria, a 79-metre river cruiser built in 1955, listed onto its right side during a thunderstorm and sank in minutes in a broad stretch of the Volga in the Tatarstan region, trapping many passengers inside as the vessel sank to the riverbed.

"The bodies of 100 people killed have been extracted," said regional Emergency Situations Ministry official Igor Panshin.

Eighteen of the bodies recovered were children.

Divers expanded their search of the area on Wednesday to 190 kilometres around the site of the accident, while authorities prepared to drag the cruise ship out of the water.

Funeral rites were held for the boat's captain Alexander Ostrovosky at a burial in Kazan near the site of the disaster.

Source: ABC Online

Search for missing fishermen suspended

13.07.11

But on Tuesday, July 12, after nine days of searching, the Mexican Navy, which has been assisted by the U.S. Coast Guard, called off the search.

Shawn Chaddock, 49, of Petaluma, an auto mechanic, and Russ Bautista, 60, of Penngrove, a retired Pacific Bell worker, are among the missing. Leslie Yee, 65, of Ceres, has been confirmed dead.

Chaddock and Bautista were among 27 American passengers who chartered the fishing boat, the 105-foot Erik, that capsized during a nighttime storm. It went down about two miles from shore and approximately 67 miles south of San Felipe, where it had departed on July 2 for what was supposed to be a six-day fishing trip.

Those who were rescued include Jim Miller, a neighbor of Bautista's in Penngrove; Dave Levine of Bodega Bay; and Dennis DeLuca and Warren Tsurumoto, both of Sebastopol.

Source: Petaluma Argus Courier

Family, Survivors Hold Memorial For Fisherman Killed In Baja Boat Accident

14.07.11

SAN FRANCISCO -- Funeral services took place Wednesday in San Francisco for the only passenger who has been confirmed dead in a fishing accident that took place off the coast of Mexico 10 days ago.

Friends and family honored Leslie Yee, whose body washed up on remote island July 3.

Yee’s son Bruce said the family encouraged his father to join his friends on the fishing trip.

“He was a workaholic and so he said he wasn't sure and we said this is a trip of a lifetime,” Yee said.

Still, there were no regrets among family and friends. Family and survivors said Yee died doing what he loved and at least they have closure.

Seven Northern Calif. men are

Source: KTVU San Francisco