Fishing Boat Capsizes off San Juan Island

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Fishing boat capsizes off southern San Juan Island, two crew members medevaced

The fishing vessel Anna J sank off San Juan Island's South Beach at about 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28 and two of six crew members were medevaced to mainland hospitals.

Charles Chevalier, Anna J's skipper and owner of the purse seiner, was transported by Airlift Northwest to Harborview Medical Center. He is in serious condition, said Sheriff Bill Cumming. Crew member Nick Nash suffered a head injury and was flown by Airlift to St. Joseph Hospital in Bellingham.

Cumming said it is believed a rigging failure unbalanced the vessel causing it to roll and sink in 50 feet of water.

San Juan County Sheriff Dispatch received information that a boat had sunk in off the South Beach of San Juan Island at about 6:40 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28.

The San Juan County Sheriff vessel Guardian responded with three deputies on board. A Coast Guard response boat crew from Station Bellingham also responded. Witnesses reported that six people were in the water and were being taken aboard a commercial fishing vessel in the immediate area, Cumming said. San Juan Emergency Medical Services responded to Cape San Juan's Fish Creek Marina and received three injured crewmen from the Guardian. Three other crewmen were transported by the U.S. Coast Guard vessel after receiving them from a commercial fishing vessel. District No. 3 firefighters assisted in securing a landing zone at the Interpretive Center at Cattle Point Beach for Airlift to provide medical evacuation for two crew members.

Condition of other crew members determined to be OK, Cumming said.

IOSA is monitoring any spill issues associated with the sinking.

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