Penngrove Man Among Those Missing in Baja Boating Accident

A Penngrove resident is one of seven men still missing after a fishing boat capsized in Baja California's Sea of Cortez Sunday, according to the Press Democrat.

Russell Bautista, 59, was in a group of fisherman who set off from San Felipe in northern Baja on Sunday. Many of the men on board were from the Bay Area and partaking in an annual July Fourth fishing trip.

Authorities confirmed that one American man was found dead, but have not released his name.

The boat set off Saturday night on what was supposed to be a four-day fishing adventure. But around 2:30 a.m. Sunday, the boat was suddenly overtaken by waves during an unexpected storm, forcing the sleeping passengers off the vessel as it quickly took on water and began to sink.

Bautista's wife, Joelle, was told that her husband grabbed a lifejacket before jumping off the boat, but added that she heard that it was hard to hold on to them in the chaos that ensued after the boat started taking on water.

According to the Associated Press, Bautista is a retired Pacific Bell employee and avid fisherman who often took others fishing or crabbing.

"He's taught a lot of people to fish," Joelle Bautista said. "Our son went out with him a lot."

The U.S. Coast Guard sent a plane from Sacramento to assist the Mexican Navy in searching for survivors. Mexican officials say the chance of survival is "good" because water temperatures hover around 80 degrees.

Bodega Bay resident David Levine was one of the 43 passengers on the Erik and survived the ordeal by holding onto an ice chest. He then swam to a nearby island, where he was rescued by three fishermen, according to the article.

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