San Felipe - UPI
A search with boats and helicopters is attempting to locate seven U.S. tourists still missing in the sinking of a charter boat off the coast of Mexico. The U.S. Coast Guard and Mexican navy are searching in the Sea of Cortez after the boat, with 44 passengers and crew, was capsized by two giant waves Sunday, ABC News reported. One U.S. tourist has been confirmed dead. The Coast Guard would be using a larger aircraft, capable of covering greater distances, in its search Tuesday, Petty Officer Pamela Boehland said. \"When the vessel sank it was close enough to shore that some people were able to swim to shore,\" Boehland said. \"Other people were picked up by good Samaritan vessels that were in the area. Others were rescued by the Mexican navy.\" Nineteen passengers and 16 crew members were reportedly rescued by navy ships or passing vessels. A group of friends from Northern California was on an annual Fourth of July fishing outing when the boat was caught in a thunderstorm and capsized about 60 miles south of San Felipe in the Mexican state of Baja California.