coast guard

Victim identified in Lake Tahoe boating tragedy

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The woman who died in Lake Tahoe on Friday, October 9, 2020, has been positively identified as a 30-year-old El Paso, Texas Resident.

According to the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office (EDSO), Daisy Rogers had been on a boat on Lake Tahoe when she went to back of the boat and accidentally fell off. A male adult who was also on board jumped in to save her but was unable to. He was wearing a life preserver but the victim did not have one on.

Tragedy on Lake Tahoe after boat found adrift with six kids on board

LAKE TAHOE - A person hearing cries for help from Lake Tahoe Friday evening brought out a full emergency response to the middle of the lake.

An investigation is underway, but Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District (TDFPD) Marshal Eric Guevin was able to release a few details about the October 9, 2020 incident.

Guevin said their Marine 24 responded along with the US Coast Guard after the person hearing the cries notified first responders. Not knowing exactly where the calls for help came from, responders headed toward Pope Beach. The first 911 calls were heard just before 7:00 p.m.

Coast Guard shuts down illegal charter at Lake Tahoe

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The U.S. Coast Guard has shut down an illegal charter boat operating in Lake Tahoe.

On Sunday, September 7, the crew of a 29-foot response boat from the Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe boarded the 48-foot pleasure craft, Cirque. On board were 19 passengers though the boat was not permitted to have six or more.

They discovered the following violations on the Cirque:

- Violation of 46 C.F.R. 176.100 (a) for not having a valid Certificate of Inspection
- Violation of 46 C.F.R 15.401(a) for not having an individual with an appropriate license

Body of Gilroy man located in Lake Tahoe

4:30 p.m. UPDTE: The body of the missing Gilroy man was located this afternoon in 117 feet of water off the shore of Lake Tahoe.

The El Dorado County Sheriff's dive team with their remote operating vehicle (ROV) found 25-year-old Ian Morlang. He was brought up to the surface and placed on the South Lake Tahoe Police Marine 1 boat, then taken to the Tahoe Keys Marina.

Police officers draped a flag on Morlang as he was carried into a waiting vehicle.

Next of kin has been notified.

The coroner transported the body to the morgue in Placerville.

Search to resume Wednesday for man missing in Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A man who had been swimming with friends is missing tonight in Lake Tahoe off the southern shore and the search for him will resume Wednesday morning.

One man dies in Lake Tahoe boating accident

UPDATE 8/11/20: A 28-year-old man from Napa, California has been identified as the person who died in a tragic boat incident off shore from South Lake Tahoe on Monday. The South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) Marine unit responded along with South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue, Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District and the U.S. Coast Guard.

When the call came in around 3:40 p.m., two men were in the water and a third was inside a rental boat. One of the men, David Castorena, had a major injury to his leg and he as not wearing a personal floatation device, or PFD.

Tahoe Douglas Fire and US Coast Guard respond to call of boat on fire near Dollar Point, Lake Tahoe

LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A 43-year-old man was rescued from a burning boat on Lake Tahoe Monday evening.

Rescue boats on the lake, including those from the Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe and Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District (TDFPD), responded to the scene near Dollar Point on the North Shore.

A 26-foot Cobalt was on fire, carrying a reported 40 gallons of fuel onboard. The man on board was rescued by a Good Samaritan prior to the arrival of the rescue boats.

Responsible recreation is urged over the 4th of July weekend at Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With months of people being under "Stay at Home" orders, and if the past few days are any indication, this holiday weekend will be busy at Lake Tahoe as people get out in the fresh air, hike, bike, go to the beach and get on the water.

The July Fourth holiday at Lake Tahoe will look a bit different this year with firework shows canceled, social distancing, the requirement of face coverings in public places and growing concerns about responsible recreation.

Two men rescued from Lake Tahoe after their kayaks capsize

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Two men were pulled from the chilly waters of Lake Tahoe after their kayaks capsized late Saturday afternoon.

At approximately 5:00 p.m. on June 6, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue's Marine 17 was dispatched to the water off of Baldwin Beach for possible kayakers in distress. One of the kayakers was able to make a call and the GPS coordinates put the two men several hundred yards off the shore between Baldwin Beach and Emerald Bay.

Man rescued from Lake Tahoe after cries for help heard from shore

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - People at Regan Beach in South Lake Tahoe heard a man's calls for help about 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, and their call to 911 brought out multiple agencies.

The 36-year-old man from Richmond, California had been kayaking about 400-500 yards offshore when his kayak starting taking on water through a hole.

Noboru Oishi, MD ~ 11/11/28 - 3/5/20

Noboru Oishi, MD, 91, passed away suddenly and peacefully at home on March 5, 2020, in South Lake Tahoe.

Originally from Kauai, Hawaii, Dr. Oishi first traveled to Lake Tahoe in 1979 and has made South Lake Tahoe his second home ever since. Noboru and his wife, Jeri, split their time between Tahoe and Texas. Besides being an oncologist, Dr. Oishi and Jeri owned the Enchanted Florist in South Lake Tahoe

Sacramento man dies after jumping into Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The body of a 26-year-old man from Sacramento was found in 65-feet of water on Saturday afternoon after he had been reportedly jumping from a cliff at Lake Tahoe's Rubicon Point.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office (EDSO) responded to a call at 2:00 p.m. from the U.S. Coast Guard about a possible drowning after the man jumping did not resurface. Search and Rescue efforts were initiated and the man was located and later recovered by the EDSO Dive Team.

Several agencies on the lake responded and aided in the search.

Boston man dies after diving into Lake Tahoe to assist distressed innertubers

NORTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Multiple agencies searched Lake Tahoe Saturday night into Sunday, looking for a man who dove into Lake Tahoe to assist two people who had fallen off an innertube.

27-year-old Sayen Sengupta from Boston, Massachusetts had been operating a rental boat with 13 passengers. The passengers told law enforcement the boat had been towing two people in an innertube when the two riders fell into the water and became distressed.

Sengupta dove into the water to assist the riders and he was last seen going towards them when he slipped underwater.

Coast Guard investigators at Lake Tahoe; Six boats cited and fined

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - To operate a boat charter company on Lake Tahoe there are rules and regulations one must follow in order to be in legal compliance with the U.S. Coast Guard or face fines and citations, something six local boat operators are now facing.

Sunken sailboat to be removed from Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - If you've been near the shore of South Lake Tahoe at Regan Beach at any time since fall you've most likely seen a partially sunken sailboat sitting just offshore. The boat's mast and wet sails have been sticking up through the water, an eyesore to many trying to take photos of the scenic view, a topic of conversation to others trying to figure out what happened.

Body of man missing in Lake Tahoe recovered

The body of the 33-year-old man who went missing in Lake Tahoe on September 8, 2018 was located by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office underwater remote operated vehicle (ROV) and then recovered on Monday, September 17.

Cameron Park man identified as Sunday's missing swimmer in Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A Cameron Park, California man has been identified as the swimmer who went missing in Lake Tahoe on Sunday, September 9, 2018.

Multiple agencies responded to the 5:36 p.m. call for help and a possible drowning on the lake near Nevada Beach including the Coast Guard, Tahoe Douglas Fire Department, South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) and South Lake Tahoe Fire Department, El Dorado County Sheriff (EDSO) and Douglas County Sheriff's Offices (DCSO).

Search called off for person reported missing in Lake Tahoe

11:00 a.m. update 9/11/18 - Douglas County Sheriff's Office is reporting that two men went into the water and that one, a man in his 30s, has not been found at this time. The other man was transported to the hospital.

On Monday, underwater drones and K9s were used in the water along with law enforcement boats to aid in the search.

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LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - Multiple agencies spent Sunday night and most of Monday searching for a person who reportedly jumped off a boat near Nevada Beach.

Five boaters near Kings Beach rescued after boat takes on water

The Coast Guard and Placer County Marine unit crews rescued five boaters whose 45-foot recreational vessel was taking on water near King's Beach in Lake Tahoe on Sunday, September 2, 2018.

The captain of the recreational vessel issued a distress call via VHF FM channel 16 around 9:30 p.m., reporting his boat was taking on water.

California man drowns in Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The body of a 21-year-old California man was located in Lake Tahoe Sunday afternoon, more than 24 hours after he jumped off a boat near Edgewood Tahoe.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office cadaver dogs alerted others to the body of the man about one-quarter mile off shore between Tahoe Meadows and Lakeside Marina just before 5:00 p.m. Sunday, according to South Lake Tahoe Police Officer Traci Trapani.

The identity of the man is being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin.

Search continues for swimmer missing in Lake Tahoe

8:00 p.m. 8/5/18 UPDATE: SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The body of a 21-year-old California man was located in Lake Tahoe Sunday afternoon, more than 24 hours after he jumped off a boat near Edgewood Tahoe.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office cadaver dogs alerted others to the body of the man about one-quarter mile off shore between Tahoe Meadows and Lakeside Marina just before 5:00 p.m. Sunday, according to South Lake Tahoe Police Officer Traci Trapani.

For more on the story: http://southtahoenow.com/story/08/05/2018/california-man-drowns-lake-tahoe
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Two-person police team protecting South Lake Tahoe waters

A day on the lake is a dream come true for many, but for two South Lake Tahoe Police Department officers it's another day at the office. As they navigate Lake Tahoe they are looking for speeders, unsafe practices, life vests, drunk boaters and boat registrations, as well as responding to life threatening crashes and drownings.

"It's our little city out here," explained Steve O'Brien who has manned the South Lake Tahoe police boat for 17 summers.

Fireworks barge catches fire in Lake Tahoe

Two hours after the Lights on the Lake fireworks show ended on July 4, one of three barges used in the show caught on fire.

The fireworks crews on board attempted to put out the fire with fire extinguishers but were unable to suppress the flames. Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District (TDFPD) monitors the show each year and weren't far away. At 12:27 a.m. July 5, Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District responded with their new fire boat, Marine 24, and doused the fire within six minutes.

There were no injuries.

Coast Guard rescues teen paddle boarders on Lake Tahoe

The Coast Guard rescued two stand-up paddle boarders who were observed struggling on Lake Tahoe, Tuesday afternoon.

A good Samaritan called 911 at approximately 4:00 p.m., reporting two teenage boys adrift and struggling to paddle upwind near Rubicon Point on Lake Tahoe, which was relayed to Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe watchstanders.

A Station Lake Tahoe 25-foot response boat crew was dispatched to the scene. The crew took the paddlers aboard and transported them to Lester Beach with no reported injuries.

Rotarians honor Lake Tahoe area veterans

Those who serve the community honored those who served the country during the annual Tahoe Douglas Rotary Veteran's Day celebration Friday.

Club member Brian Williams, US Marines (retired), organized this year's event as he does each year, inviting local veterans for lunch and a program. The Marine Corps 242nd birthday fell on the event this year, and the former Marine had a special birthday for the attendees to enjoy.

Coast Guard and Tahoe Douglas Fire respond to boater in distress

Tahoe Douglas Fire and the U.S. Coast Guard responded to a distress call Thursday evening after a sailor was unable to make it back to shore with the high winds on Lake Tahoe.

The unidentified man called for help about 5:15 p.m. when he was about one-quarter mile off the shore at Cave Rock. Winds were stronger than he thought and was unable to make it to the Cave Rock boat ramp where he put the 10-12 foot boat in.

Tahoe Douglas Fire was able to help the man get to Cedarbrook, north of Cave Rock where he moored the boat. There were no injuries.

Underwater ROV locates bodies of man missing in Lake Tahoe and boy in Stampede Reservoir

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The body of Dan Pham, the man missing in Lake Tahoe after a kayaking trip, has been found by an underwater search team just a few days after they found the body of 11-year-old Marcos Vasquez.

On June 8, 2017, Pham, whose full name is Pham Dan Vu Thanh, called a friend at 9:15 a.m. to tell him he was going kayaking and camping in the Lester Beach area. As of 6:15 p.m. that evening there had been no word from Dan.

Body recovered in Lake Tahoe believed to be that of UNR football player Marc Ma

Officials searching for the body of missing paddle boarder Marc Ma have just recovered a body in Lake Tahoe, tentatively believed to be the 20-year-old presumed drowned last summer.

One simple item will help save lives when on Lake Tahoe

LAKE TAHOE - Boating, rafting, kayaking and paddling are just a few ways to enjoy beautiful Lake Tahoe, but they come with simple safety precautions and preparations to ensure that day is complete and enjoyable.

"People are very excited to get on the water," said Edwin Lyngar, Nevada Department of Wildlife's (NDOW) Water Educator. "Take safety precautions as you can't depend on luck."

Lyngar as well as both California and Nevada water safety experts were at Sand Harbor last week to inform the public about how easy it is to be safe on the water.

Importance of understanding dangers of cold water shock

With recent water tragedies in Lake Tahoe we are republishing this 2016 article.

The most common misunderstanding about swimming in Lake Tahoe is that people can suffer from hypothermia, which leads to death. The real truth is that "cold water shock" will kill much quicker than hypothermia ever will.

"The sudden lowering of skin temperature on immersion in cold water represents one of the most profound stimuli that the body can encounter." Golden and Tipton in Essentials of Sea Survival

Hundreds join in search for missing 5-year-old; Found safe after night in the woods

A 5-year-old boy was found safe and in good spirits Sunday morning after spending the night alone in El Dorado County.

On Saturday, two boys, ages 4 and 5 were camping and riding quads with their father when the dad's motorcycle broke down. The kids did not notice dad was no longer with them.

The 4-year-old was located immediately but the search for the older boy went into the night. Over 100 volunteers from 16 counties joined in the search on off-road highway vehicles, air support, K9 Teams and ground searchers and worked all night to locate the child.

South Lake Tahoe 4th of July weekend: Safety urged for for a fun holiday

South Lake Tahoe area law enforcement, agencies and safety personnel are preparing for a very busy holiday weekend, full of people coming to enjoy all sorts of outdoor activities. With a very high lake level, and overflowing rivers, caution and safety are urged to have a fabulous weekend in Lake Tahoe.

And they aren't only going to be dealing with water safety. Rules and regulations along the beaches will also be enforced for safety reasons.

Kayaker reported missing in Lake Tahoe

The search has been suspended for a man who was reported missing near Lester Beach, north of Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe on Thursday.

On June 8 at 9:15 a.m., Pham Dan Vu Thanh (who goes by Dan), called a friend to tell him he was going kayaking and camping in the Lester Beach area. As of 6:15 p.m. that evening there had been no word from Dan.

Crowd turns out for South Lake Tahoe Memorial Day Ceremony

"I'm so proud of our community and this great turnout," said South Lake Tahoe City Councilman Tom Davis during Monday's annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Happy Homestead Cemetery.

A larger crowd than normal watched the ceremony which featured boys and girl scouts, music and speakers that included Gold Star Mom Patty Smith. Her son, Sgt. Timothy Michael Smith, was one of three South Lake Tahoe men to die in action since the September 11 attacks in 2001. Smith, 25, who died April 7, 2008, after his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device in Baghdad.

Boating safety from the Coast Guard

The Coast Guard reminds boaters to exercise caution and safe boating practices while on the water, including rivers and Lake Tahoe while enjoying the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.

All boaters and beach goers are encouraged to be aware of boat traffic, prepare for potential hazards and keep advised of weather changes through the National Weather Service. Winds are supposed to be calm on Lake Tahoe this weekend, one should always check.

Sunken sailboat now back afloat on Lake Tahoe

The 26-foot sailboat that spent most of the winter at the bottom of Lake Tahoe is now back afloat and resting just off the shore of El Dorado Beach.

Preparations made to remove sunken sailboat from waters of South Lake Tahoe

The sunken sailboat off the shore of South Lake Tahoe near El Dorado Beach will soon be a thing of the past. All winter long the mast of the sunken boat could be seen from the shore, and as water levels rose, the mast tipped over more.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) in North Lake Tahoe, they had sent a crew to the boat during the winter to document and verify the sinking, retrieved the vessel number and made contact with its owner. USCG said they also made the information public so boaters would be forewarned of the hazard.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue looks to City Council for new boat

Without a boat since 2015, South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR) will ask City Council for $75,000 on Tuesday for the purchase of a used SAFE boat.

The former fire rescue boat, Marine 17, was taken off the lake (decommissioned) in 2015 after 15 years of service. Needed repairs amounted to more than the value of the boat. Since the SLTFR has borrowed Marine 2 which belongs to the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD).

22 tons of cocaine worth $577.5 million seized by U.S. Coast Guard in 26 days

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. - The U.S. Coast Guard unloaded 22 tons of seized cocaine this week, six in San Diego, 16 in Florida. The wholesale value of the cocaine is about $577.5 million.

The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Stratton offloaded the cocaine in San Diego during a media event Friday. Several cutters in the Eastern Pacific Ocean area seized the drugs mid-January through February.

The drugs were intercepted in international waters off the coast of Central and South America.

US Coast Guard has record year in drug seizures - $5.6 billion worth

With a growing cocaine problem, not only in South Lake Tahoe but in the whole country, the U.S Coastguard and their interagency partners are being kept busy seizing the drug from ships in the Pacific Ocean headed to the United States.

The Coast Guard broke records over the last 12 months by removing more than 416,000 pounds of cocaine worth over $5.6 billion from boats and ships. Their previous record was 367,700 pounds seized in 2008.

Three rescued by Coast Guard on south end of Lake Tahoe

LAKE TAHOE - Three people were rescued after a distress call led the Coast Guard to the 25-foot vessel, JUST ENOUGH, as it was taking on water near the California/Nevada border of the South Shore of Lake Tahoe Tuesday afternoon.

The initial call came in at 3:00 p.m. and crews from Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County Sheriffs Department responded to the scene.

Coast Guard continuing investigation into Tahoe Queen fire

An investigation team from the Coast Guard is continuing their investigation into Tuesday's fire on board the Tahoe Queen, which suffered severe damage while it was docked at the pier at the Zephyr Cove Marina on Lake Tahoe's South Shore.

At this point they have not completed their investigation and the cause of the fire has yet to be determined.

Fire severely damages Tahoe Queen

ZEPHYR COVE, NV - Investigators and vessel inspectors from Coast Guard Sector San Francisco are on the scene of Tuesday's fire on board the 119-foot passenger Lake Tahoe paddle wheel boat, the Tahoe Queen.

"Most of the damage is limited to the boat's pilot house and second deck," Lt. Jake Aulner of the U.S. Coast Guard told South Tahoe Now. "This can be attributed to the great response by the Tahoe Douglas Fire Department."

Aulner and the team from USCG Yerba Buena Island will be at the scene until the cause of the morning blaze is determined.

Boat sinks in Lake Tahoe with 4 men on board; All rescued after late night search

Four men from San Francisco are very lucky today after being rescued early Sunday morning after their rented boat sank three miles off shore in the cold waters of Lake Tahoe.

Shouts for help were heard from people staying both at the Zephyr Cove Presbyterian Center and in Marla Bay, and 911 calls were made into the Tahoe Douglas Fire station.

For reasons unknown at this time, the boat started taking in water at about 10:00 p.m. None of the four passengers were wearing life jackets.

Woman airlifted to Reno after Lake Tahoe boating accident

Updated Story 7/25/16:

A 22-year-old woman from Oregon is in serious condition at Renown Medical Center in Reno after having her leg caught in the propeller of a boat on Lake Tahoe Sunday afternoon. The boat with twin propellers had been pulling her on an innertube, but upon re-entering the boat the unidentified woman's legs were caught in the props.

Importance of understanding dangers of cold water shock

The most common misunderstanding about swimming in Lake Tahoe is that people can suffer from hypothermia, which leads to death. The real truth is that "cold water shock" will kill much quicker than hypothermia ever will.

"The sudden lowering of skin temperature on immersion in cold water represents one of the most profound stimuli that the body can encounter." Golden and Tipton in Essentials of Sea Survival

The Nevada Department of Wildlife is increasing their educational campaign for boaters and swimmers to understand the dangers of cold water at Lake Tahoe.

Search called off for UNR football player missing in waters of Lake Tahoe

Search teams have suspended the search for a paddle boarder who went missing Friday night off of Obexer’s Marina on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe.

The Placer County Sheriff's Office reported Saturday, June 11 that two days of searching have not recovered Marc Ma, a 20-year-old football player for the University of Nevada Reno (UNR).

Mountain Resort Television: Coast Guard boating safety tips

Coast Guard Auxillary promotes safe boating on Lake Tahoe with education and inspections. Listen to this segment from Mountain Resort Television and reporter Nicole Marsel.

National Safe Boating Week

National Safe Boating Week is May 21-27, 2016 and is the launch of the 2016 North American Safe Boating Campaign. This yearlong campaign promotes safe and responsible boating and the value of voluntary, consistent life jacket wear by recreational boaters through the national theme, Wear It!

The local US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 11-04 in South Lake Tahoe is promoting the Wear It! campaign and hopes it will remind boaters of the importance of boating safely, including consistent life jacket wear, boating sober, knowing navigational rules and having a proper lookout.

Search on for missing person in South Lake Tahoe

5 p.m. Update:

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