Survivors of Lake Tahoe boating disaster that killed eight are credited for wearing life jackets in ‘freak storm'

Daily Mail​

29-06-2025

The two unidentified survivors of the deadly Lake Tahoe tragedy that claimed eight lives were wearing life jackets at the time of their rescue.
Ten boaters aboard a 27ft gold Chris-Craft vessel set out on the California side of Lake Tahoe on June 21 eager to enjoy a sun-drenched day on the water for a 71st birthday celebration.
However, the day turned fatal when a sudden powerful 'freak' storm erupted over the lake - unleashing 8ft waves, pounding hail, and torrential rain - that struck without warning and ultimately capsized their boat culminating in the deaths.
Search & rescue: The two survivors of the deadly Lake Tahoe tragedy that claimed eight lives had their life jackets on at the time they were rescued
The victims of the disaster were identified as Paula Bozinovich, 71, Terry Pickles, 73, Joshua Antony Pickles, 37, Peter Bayes, 72, Timothy O'Leary, 71, Theresa Giullari, 66, James Guck, 69, and Stephen Lindsay, 63.
However, the two yet-to-be-named survivors of the tsunami-like storm were transported to a local hospital upon their rescue, according to a Facebook post from the Washoe County Sheriff's Hasty Team.
Justin Smith of Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe told Fox Digital News: 'The most common mistake boaters make is not being aware of the forecasted weather.
'Life jackets being worn continue to be the primary survivability factor.'
On the morning of the fatal incident, the conditions outside were perfect for a carefree weekend outing - clear skies, gentle breezes, and steadily rising temperatures.
Despite a slight chance of rain and thunderstorms - a common occurrence for seasoned boaters - hundreds of people still took to the water that day.
But something shifted around 2pm and some boaters spotted whitecaps formed on the water, while others noticed the wind suddenly picked up and blew fiercely from the north, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
From that moment, conditions deteriorated rapidly to transform a calm day into a desperate race against time and nature - as 8ft waves, 30-knot winds, snow, and hail all engulfed the lake within just minutes.
Brittany Glick, who was on a nearby pontoon celebrating a bachelorette party, told NPR: 'It felt like we were in a tsunami that was starting. I had never experienced anything like that.'
A woman who was visiting the lake with friends, told the BBC: 'It happened suddenly. The water was just screaming toward the shore. It was bad.'
Some vessels broke free from their moorings, while others sank or crashed into nearby piers. Several buoys were also washed ashore, according to the LA Times.
Before many could reach shore amid the chaos, several boats capsized - hurling passengers into the raging, churning waters.
At around 3pm, multiple people reported seeing a group in the water after their boat met the same fate, according to a news release from the El Dorado Sheriff's Office.
Both the sheriff's office and the Coast Guard swiftly responded to the shores of DL Bliss State Park, where they successfully rescued two individuals strapped into their flotation devices.
Smith of the coast guards warned boaters as he told Fox News: 'Weather in the Tahoe Basin can be unpredictable and change quickly.
'Mariners should be hesitant to operate in conditions where wind advisories or small craft advisories have been issued.'
A massive search-and-rescue operation involving multiple agencies was quickly launched to locate the remaining boaters, including North Tahoe Fire, California State Parks, the Washoe County Sheriff's Office, and the United States Coast Guard.
The recovery operations also required advanced divers and specialized teams, including Wilderness Finder Search Dog Teams.
Action stations: Both the sheriff's office and the Coast Guard swiftly responded to the shores of DL Bliss State Park, where they successfully rescued the two surviving individuals
Six bodies were recovered on the surface of the water near the capsized boat shortly after the storm, according to the Facebook post.
The following day, the Washoe County Sheriff's Office responded to a request from El Dorado's County Sheriff's Office to assist in recovering the remaining two victims.
An extensive underwater search was conducted by the Search and Rescue Hasty Team, the Specialized Vehicle Unit aboard Marine 10 and the Marine 9 crew, according to the department wrote.
The search employed the Hasty Team's Outland 1,000 Remotely Operated Vehicle, equipped with multiple cameras, lights, onboard sonar, and an articulating claw capable of diving to depths of up to 2,000ft.
That afternoon, a seventh victim was found at a depth of over 300ft. Then, on Monday, the final missing victim was discovered at a similar depth, according to the department.
The sheriff's office said: 'The success of the search and recovery operations would not have been nearly as efficient without the assistance of our partner agencies.'
According to ABC 7 News and Fox News, the wife of victim Pickles (who was with his parents Terry and Paula Bozinovich) had stayed home to care for their seven-month-old daughter at the time of the disaster. The group was celebrating his mother's 71st birthday on Lake Tahoe.
Two other victims were also from California, Pickles' uncle Peter Bayes and Timothy O'Leary.
The three remaining victims, Giullari, Guck, and Lindsay were visiting from NYC.
In a June 24 statement, El Dorado's County Sheriff's Office said: 'These individuals were part of a closely connected family group enjoying a birthday gathering on the lake.
'We extend our deepest heartfelt condolences to the families of those who were lost and all those who have been affected by this tragic event.'
But even boaters who managed to reach shore during the storm weren't out of danger as many suffered after falling into the frigid water, LA Times reported.
A longtime Tahoe boater told the outlet: 'There was just a massive amount of people that were in hypothermia or shock. It was just a tragic day on Lake Tahoe.'