Update by the edhat staff
July 16, 2025
A fishing trip off the Santa Barbara coast turned tragic Friday morning when a recreational motor boat sank two miles off Leadbetter Point, has claimed two lives.
The vessel, a 24-foot Skipjack motor boat registered in Azusa, California, was carrying four individuals — three adults and one child — when it sank in waters approximately 150 feet deep. The cause of the sinking remains unknown, with investigators still searching for the wreckage.
Distress Call Sparked Swift Rescue
At around 7:45 a.m., the distressed boat issued a mayday call, which was swiftly picked up by the Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol and the NOAA research vessel Shearwater. Lieutenant Ryan Kelly of the Harbor Patrol reported that the clarity of the transmission indicated the stricken vessel was nearby.
The Shearwater, which was departing Santa Barbara Harbor at the time, arrived first at the scene and found the four passengers struggling in the 62ºF water. A NOAA crew member jumped in with fins and flotation devices, rescuing the child and aiding two unconscious adults, while other responders assisted the fourth passenger.
Emergency Efforts and Outcome
Both unconscious adults were given CPR onboard the rescue vessels before being transported to the harbor, where city police, firefighters, and medics were waiting. All four individuals were taken to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.
Two of the adults were later pronounced dead by the coroner’s office. The child and the third adult were treated and released, they were both reportedly wearing life vests.
Lt. Kelly emphasized the importance of wearing life jackets in emergencies, noting that the child’s life was likely saved due to proper adherence to safety regulations.
Vessel Remains Missing
Investigators are working to locate the sunken vessel, a critical piece of evidence in determining the cause of the accident. The Skipjack was partially submerged when rescuers arrived, with only the bow visible. Despite efforts over the weekend, including flotation devices and light markers placed by TowBoatUS and an aerial search, the boat has yet to be located and may have sunk deeper or drifted.
Kelly said the incident underscores the rarity of fatal boating accidents in the region but serves as a sobering reminder of the risks for recreational boaters stating it’s imperative to wear life jackets, follow regulations and have proper safety equipment onboard.
The Coroner’s Bureau has not yet released the name of the deceased. The investigation is ongoing.
Boat Sinks Off Santa Barbara Coast Causing Several Injuries
By the edhat staff
July 11, 2025
A boat sank off the coast of Santa Barbara on Friday morning causing several injuries.
According to emergency scanner traffic, the incident took place around 7:45 a.m. involving multiple agencies that include the U.S. Coast Guard, Harbor Patrol, and Santa Barbara City Fire Department.
Four people reportedly sustained injuries ranging from hypothermia to resuscitation. Their condition is currently unknown.
It’s unclear where the boat was located off the coast, how many people were onboard, and what caused it to sink.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Also Read
- Santa Barbara’s 40-Year-Old Metaphysical Bookstore Paradise Found Is Listed for Sale
- Historic 1880 Union Hotel in Los Alamos to Reopen for Overnight Stays After Over a Decade
- Sprawling Ranch-Style Multi-Parcel Estate With Ocean Views in Santa Barbara Listed for $3.295 Million
- Small Laundry-Room Fire in Nipomo Quickly Contained
- 2.8 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes San Ramon Area, No Damage Reported
The NOAA crew are heroes.
https://www.noozhawk.com/sinking-vessel-santa-barbara-medical-emergency/
I believe there were two fatalities
That’s awful. So strange to have that extreme an incident, I wonder if it was an explosion, or strike something submerged at high speed, two fatalities as a result of a sinking alone just seems really unusual.
So strange how there is so little info on this and no updates of any kind. I sure hope all passengers made it and would like to know the cause. We were heading out fishing Friday morning no more than 10 minutes behind the NOAA boat and saw harbor patrol NOAA boat out there as we headed up the line. Unfortunately we heard the same thing as Papi when we got back to the harbor late Friday but was just hoping maybe that was not the case.
Surprised that Ed Hat updated this ten hours ago, on July 16, without updating the fatality count. Two died in this tragedy, not one.