Los Angeles

3 Dead, 4 Rescued After Boat Capsizes Off Catalina Coast

Three men were killed after a boat carrying seven passengers capsized off the Catalina Island coast Saturday morning, officials said. 

"It's upsetting because it could happen to anyone," said Spike Ivens, who helped rescue the fisherman. "There were some freak waves. The wave that grabbed them -- it picked them up and tossed them."

The men killed in the accident were identified by the Los Angeles County Coroner's office as Kyung Kim, 47, of Los Angeles; Jason Noh, 62, of Buena Park; and Young Park, 64, of Los Angeles.

The overturned boat was reported at 9:30 a.m. near Salta Verde Point on the backside of Catalina, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard. 

Officials said a good Samaritan, later identified as Ivens, rescued two of the boaters and reported seeing another person on the rocks. The Coast Guard launched a helicopter crew and rescued the missing boater.

"They were floating on the surface of the water," Ivens said. "They were out sorts."

Ivens helped flag down fisherman, and pulled some of the men aboard the Pacific Quest where crew members treated them with first aid.

The Coast Guard and LA County Lifeguards arrived and rescued one fisherman stuck on a rock and another who swam to shore.

Four men total aboard the 22-foot skiff were rescued and taken to area hospitals. Two were in critical condition. Crews recovered three bodies from the water. 

"It wasn't their fault, but maybe they were at the wrong place at the wrong time," Ivens said.

Waves in the area were reported to be between 4 and 6 feet.

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