1 US tourist dead, 7 missing after boat sinks off Mexico

A fishing boat carrying U.S. tourists capsized and sank in an electrical storm off Mexico's Baja California peninsula early Sunday, Mexican officials said. One American was killed and seven were missing, authorities said Monday.

The 115-foot (35-meter) boat Erik left San Felipe on the Sea of Cortez, a haven for windsurfers and sports fishermen, on Saturday for a six-day fishing trip.

Reuters reported there were 43 people on board, including 27 American tourists. Senior Chief Benny Minton, of the U.S. Coast Guard, told msnbc.com that 27 U.S. citizens and 17 Mexicans were on board.

On its first night out of port, the Erik was struck by an electrical storm and capsized early on Sunday, port and navy officials said.

Minton said some managed to swim to shore, then had to walk to get help in an isolated area about 87 miles south of San Felipe.
Source:msn.com