Man Hurt When Wave Capsizes Boat
A 62-year-old Oxnard man suffered a back injury Sunday afternoon when a large wave capsized a recreational fishing boat off the coast of Anacapa Island, the Coast Guard reported.
The man, whom authorities declined to identify, was in stable condition at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard, where he was taken by helicopter after the incident, Petty Officer Howard Golub said.
The man and two friends were fishing on the east side of the island near Arch Rock when the boat’s anchor broke loose during high tide shortly after 2 p.m., Golub said.
When the men were unable to start the 16-foot powerboat because of a dead battery, a large wave capsized the vessel and tossed all three into the water, Golub said.
The victim was injured when he became trapped between the boat and some rocks. The man’s friends, who were uninjured, were able to pull him to shore while another private vessel in the area radioed for help.
The Coast Guard station in Oxnard sent out a crew on a 41-foot rescue boat, but high tides prevented the officers from reaching shore, Golub said. A helicopter was sent from Los Angeles to carry the men to safety.
The powerboat remained beached at the island Sunday night.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
