Teen rescued after clinging to capsized boat for days in frigid Alaska waters
Teen rescued in Bering Sea days after boat capsizes
A 15-year-old boy was rescued this week after clinging for two days to a capsized boat in the Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska.
A 15-year-old boy was rescued this week after clinging for two days to a capsized boat in the Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska.
His older brother and cousin both died at sea, and he was experiencing signs of hypothermia when he was found.
Teen rescued from Bering Sea
What we know:
The teen, identified by a relative as Derek Parker Aghnaanga, was out fishing with his brother and cousin when the boat capsized Saturday night far out in the ocean. The group left the village of Savoonga on St. Lawrence Island on Friday and planned to return early Sunday, the Coast Guard said.
Teen clings to capsized boat for days in Bering Sea (Carlos Escartin via Storyful)
St. Lawrence Island is a remote Alaskan island closer to Russia than it is to the U.S.
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U.S. Coast Guard planes and helicopters began searching for the boat Monday morning after family members reported the three missing the night before. The Coast Guard said one of its aircrews spotted the boy Monday morning and deployed a raft and supplies before contacting The Northwest Explorer, a nearby fishing boat.
The teen was finally hoisted to safety Monday by The Northwest Explorer near the remote island. He was experiencing symptoms of hypothermia when he got onto the boat, the Coast Guard said. The bodies of his cousin and brother were also recovered.
What they're saying:
"That’s one tough kid," Adam White, captain of The Northwest Explorer, told KTUU-TV in Anchorage.
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Aghnaanga clung to the boat in water that’s about 50 degrees.
Teen climbs to safety after being rescued from capsized boat in Bering Sea (Carlos Escartin via Storyful)
"Through the teeth chattering, he had mentioned that his brother was still under the skiff," White said. "And then he said that, in the previous night, before our rescue, that his cousin had slipped away."
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The teen’s aunt told The Associated Press that halibut fishing is important for the culture – and survival – of the village of Savoonga, where about 800 residents live. Residents often share their catch with family and neighbors, she said.
"That’s how we do it in our community. We take care of one another," she said Friday. "We still live a traditional way of life even if the world is changing."
The Source: This report includes information from The Associated Press.