A Ceres man was among those who died in early Sunday's boating accident which occurred when giant waves capsized a fishing boat near San Felipe, Mexico.

The dead man was identified by family members as Leslie Yee, 63, of Ceres.

Seven others were missing in the Gulf of California mishap.

A total of 44 persons - more than two dozen from California - were on the 115-foot fishing boat, the Erik, operated by Baja Sportfishing of San Diego, when it went down two miles offshore. The capsize occurred at approximately 2 a.m. and many victims swept into the water stayed alive by holding onto ice coolers, rescue rings and life vests for as much as 12 hours before they were plucked from the water by the Mexican Navy and local fishermen. Some managed to swim back to shore where they summoned aid.

Those lost at sea include Mark Dorland, 62, of Twain Harte. Two of his friends from Sonora, Bob Higgins and Steven Sloneker, were among those rescued.

"He was a wonderful person and grandfather," said Modestan Felisha Carlegan, whose sister Lydia was married to Leslie Yee. "He'll be really missed."

A Vietnam veteran who was retired from management of the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper, Yee lived in Ceres for approximately six years.

"It was kind of a 'bucket list' trip," she said. "On the return trip he was going to go to China to meet his new grandson."

Mr. Yee was the father of three from his first marriage. He also had a stepdaughter and two grandchildren.

Yee was accompanied by one of his best friends, a name named Donald, who was also missing in the waters and presumed drowned.

The Eric disembarked from San Felipe on Saturday for an intended seven-day crew with a 17-member Mexican crew and 27 tourists.

Assisting in the search for bodies and other survivors is the U.S. Coast Guard.