Man, 2 Sons Rescued After Boat Capsizes

A Thousand Oaks man and his two sons were rescued from cold, choppy waters Saturday after their inflatable boat capsized in the ocean at Marina Park in Ventura, authorities said.

Gus Stefatos and his sons, George, 15, and Andrew, 8, had been motoring the 14-foot hard-bottomed boat about 100 yards offshore when it overturned about 2:30 p.m., said Officer Pat Hummer of the Ventura Harbor Patrol.

“We heard yelling from the main park and there were some bystanders who had seen it and were trying to get the attention of passing boats,” Hummer said.

State lifeguards Brian Ketterer and Mark Thompson and Harbor Officer Bob Crane swam to the victims, who were clinging to the side of the gray boat. The trio was pulled back to a Harbor Patrol cruiser and taken to a launch ramp where Stefatos’ wife was waiting, Hummer said.

Andrew was treated by paramedics for mild hypothermia, Hummer said. The family’s boat was towed in and returned to them. Hummer said it was unclear if the boat had an anchor, which might have prevented it from capsizing.

Boating conditions were normal Saturday afternoon with swells no larger than 3 feet, Hummer said.