Medford man dies, 2 other hospitalized after boat capsizes in Winchester Bay

A southern Oregon man died and two others were hospitalized Thursday after their boat capsized in Winchester Bay, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Anthony Knight, 35, of Medford, was rescued by the Coast Guard and later died at a local hospital.

Coast Guard officials said that around 2 p.m. on Thursday, a 63-year-old Medford man and his 36-year-old son were fishing with their neighbor, Knight, in an 18 foot, 6 inch Kingfisher boat in the ocean when after a few hours of fishing they decided to come in.

"While progressing into the bay, a large wave crashed into the left side of the boat causing the boat to roll over," a news release said. "All three occupants went into the water without lifejackets. The vessel eventually capsized."

Officials said the 63-year-old and Knight were rescued by Coast Guard personnel and that "lifesaving efforts" were initiated on Knight, who was unconscious. Both the man and Knight were transported to Lower Umpqua Hospital for medical treatment but efforts to revive Knight were unsuccessful.

The Medford man's son was later located by a Coast Guard helicopter on the North Jetty and was airlifted from there to North Bend Hospital.

The incident is under investigation by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office Marine Division in coordination with the Oregon State Marine Board.

Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 16 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast . Urness is the author of “ Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon ” and “ Hiking Southern Oregon .” He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Medford man dies, 2 other hospitalized after boat capsizes in Winchester Bay