A 49-year-old Bellingham man died after a boat capsized in Bellingham Bay on the Fourth of July.
First responders received a report around 6 p.m. Saturday of the capsized vessel with one person on board. When the Coast Guard arrived on scene, they temporarily righted the vessel and helped the Bellingham Fire Department recover the man from the water, according to Petty Officer Daylan Garlic with the U.S. Coast Guard.
Kristopher DeBoer was found in an unresponsive state, and first responders began CPR along with emergency medical care as he was taken to the Coast Guard Station in Bellingham. DeBoer was later pronounced dead by emergency medical services, according to Garlic. The Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed DeBoer’s death to The Bellingham Herald on Tuesday.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the family, friends and loved ones of the man who was lost in this tragic incident,” Lt. William Trumper, commanding officer of Coast Guard Station Bellingham, said in a news release. “This is a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers mariners face. Our thoughts remain with all those who are affected by this incident during this incredibly difficult time.”
Weather conditions at the time of the search included 11 mph winds from the south, 1-foot waves, 62-degree air temperature, and 51-degree water temperature, according to Garlic.
The autopsy report for DeBoer has not been finalized, so no exact cause of death has been released.
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