SAN FRANCISCO – The person who died when a three-story “pleasure boat” capsized in rough waters Tuesday near Alcatraz Island has been identified as a 79-year-old man from Sutter County, officials announced Wednesday.
Clifford Boisa was declared dead after being pulled from the San Francisco Bay during a boat outing for a memorial service that turned fatal, according to San Francisco’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Details of the sinking emerged Wednesday as U.S. Coast Guard crews continued to spread out over the waters of the bay, looking for three people still missing. A dog on the boat also died. Rescue crews saved 16 people.
A police boat passes Alcatraz Island as search and rescue operations continue for victims of a Tuesday boat sinking on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
First responders stand near a body after a boat accident near Alcatraz Island off San Francisco, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
The Oakland Police Department Maritime Unit participates in a search and rescue effort after a boat capsized roughly 600 yards off Alcatraz Island on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, (Oakland Police Department)
A San Francisco Fire Department vessel passes the city skyline while searching for missing victims after a boat accident near Alcatraz Island off San Francisco, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A helicopter flies past the Golden Gate Bridge while searching for missing victims after a boat accident near Alcatraz Island off San Francisco, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A U.S. Coast Guard crew goes past Alcatraz Island near the site of a pontoon boat accident on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
The Oakland Police Department Maritime Unit participates in a search and rescue effort after a boat capsized roughly 600 yards off Alcatraz Island on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, (Oakland Police Department)
Search and rescue vessels look for missing victims after a boat accident near Alcatraz Island off San Francisco, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A San Francisco Fire Department vessel passes the city skyline while searching for missing victims after a boat accident near Alcatraz Island off San Francisco, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
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A police boat passes Alcatraz Island as search and rescue operations continue for victims of a Tuesday boat sinking on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
The tragedy happened about 3:35 p.m. The San Francisco Fire Department aid it received a report of a vessel in distress about 600 yards from Alcatraz, Fire Chief Dean Crispen said at a Tuesday news conference.
The U.S. Coast Guard was slated to hold a press conference at 2 p.m. Wednesday to provide an update. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie are expected to speak along with Crispen and representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard.
On Wednesday morning, rescuers continued to use technologies such as thermal imaging, tide prediction and modeling to help direct efforts while spanning out to areas near the San Pablo Bay.
Authorities said their initial belief that the group was on a pontoon boat were not correct. Instead, they later said it was a 49-foot cabin cruiser “pleasure boat” that had three levels. A pontoon boat is considerably smaller and made to be on rivers and lakes.
“Originally, because of the canvas top, it was described as a pontoon boat,” SFFD Lt. Mariano Elias said. He added that the boat was large enough to withstand the waters near Alcatraz.
“The question is whether the boat was designed to be in the bay at that time of day,” he said.
A San Francisco police marine unit arrived first at the scene and found a man in “severe distress,” Crispen said Tuesday. He was hauled out of the water and given CPR, but authorities later pronounced him dead.
Authorities initially believed the vessel – called the Volare, and documented out of Stockton – was carrying 19 people, but the number was later revised to 20 based on witness accounts. Authorities said that there were life jackets on the boat that only some people were wearing.
Three passengers were taken to area hospitals, where they were listed Tuesday in stable condition. The rest escaped injury and were taken to Fort Mason to be reunited with loved ones. They received assistance from the San Francisco Human Services Agency and the American Red Cross.
Crispen said the Volare sank after being hit by a wave or by taking on water.
“This was mostly family members of one another who were on this vessel,” he said.
Initial reports indicated a fire had broken out on the vessel, but authorities later determined witnesses had mistaken steam for smoke, the fire department said in a news release. San Francisco police, the Oakland Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard all responded.
Crispen originally said that the boat set sail from the St. Francis Yacht Club, though the organization disputed that on Wednesday. The boat “did not embark from, nor was it associated with” the yacht club, said Susan Ruhne, who is listed as a commodore on the yacht club’s nonprofit filings.
“We share the same bay, and our condolences go out to the family and the friends of the victims of this unfortunate tragedy,” Ruhne said.
Please check back for updates.
Search and rescue vessels look for missing victims after a boat accident near Alcatraz Island off San Francisco, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A body is covered with a tarp on a dock near the site of boat accident on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A helicopter goes past the Golden Gate Bridge as part of search and rescue efforts near the site of boat accident on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
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Search and rescue vessels look for missing victims after a boat accident near Alcatraz Island off San Francisco, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
This is a developing report. Check back for updates.