Man dead after small boat overturns near Sucia Island

Published 7:37 pm Friday, May 18, 2012

FRIDAY HARBOR — The Coast Guard says one man died and two survivors have been rescued after a 15-foot motor boat overturned near Sucia Island in northwest Washington’s San Juan Islands.

The victim was not immediately identified.

Petty Officer Nate Littlejohn said a Good Samaritan boater reported Friday afternoon that he had pulled three people from the water. A Sucia Island park ranger, a San Juan County paramedic and a Coast Guard crewmember all performed CPR on the victim but he did not survive.

Littlejohn said the two survivors showed signs of hypothermia. They were taken to Friday Harbor.

The case is under investigation but Littlejohn said it appears the small boat got hung up on a crab pot.

All three people were wearing lifejackets.