Three people aboard the "Deadliest Catch"
boat Mary B II were pronounced dead after their vessel capsized off the coast
of Newport, Oregon on Tuesday, officials said.
The boat was on the Discovery Channel show, “Deadliest
Catch: Dungeon Cove,” according to the New York Post.
The network told Fox News that the captain and crew onboard the vessel were not
featured on the show.
The fatal incident occurred after the fishermen requested the U.S. Coast Guard
(USCG) assist them in crossing the Yaquina Bay bar shortly before 10 p.m.
“due to high seas,” Oregon State Police said in a news release.
At
10:13 p.m., authorities got word that the boat “had capsized with three people
onboard,” police said.
A
Coast Guard crew, which was already on the scene for an escort request,
witnessed the capsizing and quickly went into search and rescue mode, Coast
Guard Petty Officer Levi Read told Fox News.
#USCG Air Facility Newport and Station Yaquina Bay boat crews responding to 3 fishermen in the water after commercial fishing vessel Mary B II capsizes while crossing Yaquina Bay Bar. Crews battling 12 to 14-foot seas. pic.twitter.com/vmyB2K6J8b— USCGPacificNorthwest (@USCGPacificNW) January 9, 2019
The USCG Pacific
Northwest tweeted about
the incident as it was occurring, saying that responders were “battling 12 to
14-foot seas.” There were reports of 16 to 20-foot waves as well, Read said.
The
first person was recovered around 11:20 p.m. by a Coast Guard helicopter, Read
said. The individual – identified as James Lacey, 48 – was taken to a hospital
in Newport and pronounced dead, according to state police.
A second deceased individual – Joshua Porter, 50 – was
located on the beach, authorities said.
“The
Mary B II ultimately ran aground, on the beach, near the north side of the
Yaquina Bay North Jetty,” state police said. “The boat Skipper, Stephen
Biernacki (age 50 from Barnegat Township, NJ) was found with the boat and
pronounced deceased at the scene.”
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