Two die as fishing boat sinks off Channel Islands

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – A fishing boat sank off the Channel Islands Tuesday, killing two people and injuring one, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

Clifton Kent, 45, of Santa Barbara swam more than a mile through chilly waters and was rescued about 9 a.m. on the island’s north shore. A scuba diving boat crew called the Coast Guard after spotting oil, debris and two bodies in the water and Kent waving his arms.

Kent was airlifted to a hospital, where he was treated and released.

A Coast Guard boat scoured the debris field for several hours before discovering the bodies. Their identities were not released and the cause of the accident was under investigation.