Canadian woman dies, husband rescued after sailboat capsizes near San Juan Islands

A tragic incident occurred near the San Juan Islands when a 31-foot sailboat, occupied by two Canadian citizens, ran aground amid snowy conditions and high winds late Monday evening. The U.S. Coast Guard received a mayday call around 7 p.m. and dispatched rescue crews to the area, where they found the man and woman struggling in the water after the boat's mast collapsed during the rescue attempt. While the man was successfully hoisted aboard the rescue boat, the woman was discovered unconscious in the water and later pronounced dead at St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham. The Coast Guard reported that weather conditions included 25 to 30 mph winds and 4 to 6-foot waves, which contributed to the boat's distress. An investigation has been launched to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident, and a Coast Guard member was also injured during the rescue but has since been released from the hospital. The event has drawn condolences from local authorities for the victims and their families.