15-Year-Old Boy Rescued After Clinging to Capsized Boat in Bering Sea for Days

A 15-year-old boy was rescued alive in the Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska after clinging to an overturned fishing boat for roughly two days, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Two other boaters on the 18-foot vessel, identified by local reports as the teen’s older brother and their cousin, did not survive the capsizing.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, crews initiated a search early Monday after Alaska State Troopers reported the vessel overdue at approximately 8:30 p.m. local time on Sunday. Poor visibility and adverse weather prevented rescue aircraft from launching until Monday morning. A Coast Guard aircrew ultimately spotted the 15-year-old survivor clinging to the capsized hull about four miles off the coast of St. Lawrence Island, experiencing symptoms of hypothermia.

Rescue Operations Near St. Lawrence Island

The rescue was coordinated from above by a Coast Guard aircrew that deployed a life raft and supplies down to the teenager, according to federal officials. A good Samaritan commercial fishing vessel, the Northwest Explorer, took the survivor aboard before leaving the scene to refuel. The bodies of the two deceased mariners were also recovered from the water and brought onto the Northwest Explorer, which transported the survivor and the remains to the western Alaskan port city of Nome.

Bob Little, commander of the Coast Guard’s Arctic District, issued a statement thanking local partners. Little remarked that his thoughts and condolences are with all the friends, families, and communities impacted by the fatal accident involving these two mariners. He additionally expressed appreciation for the exceptional work carried out by village, state, and federal first responders, collaboration partners, and the motor vessel Northwest Explorer during the operation that successfully saved a life.

Journey from Savoonga and Community Impact

According to the Coast Guard and family members, the 18-foot fishing boat had departed Friday from the northern coast of St. Lawrence Island near the village of Savoonga. The group planned to return early Sunday morning. St. Lawrence Island is sparsely inhabited, lies about 100 miles from the Alaska mainland, and sits closer to Russia across the Bering Strait than to North America. The surrounding northern Pacific waters are notoriously rough and frigid.

Collen Walker, an aunt of the two brothers, told reporters that halibuts and subsistence fishing are cultural mainstays critical to survival in the village of roughly 800 residents, where employment opportunities are scarce. That is how we do it in our community. We take care of one another, Walker said. We still live a traditional way of life even if the world is changing.

Walker identified the surviving teen as Derek Parker Aghnaanga and his older brother as 35-year-old commercial fishing captain Sidney Kulowiyi. According to Walker, Aghnaanga looked to Kulowiyi as a father figure following the death of their father. Walker described Kulowiyi as a humble and loving provider for people in the village. Family members chose not to publicly release the name of the cousin who also died in the incident.

Survivor Account and Local Reaction

According to the Anchorage Daily News, the surviving teen told Northwest Explorer captain Adam White that he and his cousin initially held onto the overturned skiff together before his cousin slipped into the water on the night prior to the rescue. The boy also reported that his brother remained trapped underneath the capsized hull. That is one remarkably tough kid, is all I can say, White said, according to the Anchorage Daily News. Adam White told KTUU-TV that the teen spoke through chattering teeth while enduring water temperatures of approximately 50 degrees Fahrenheit, or 10 degrees Celsius. Through the teeth chattering, he had mentioned that his brother was still under the skiff, White said, adding that the boy described his cousin slipping away the previous night. Walker mentioned that everyone broke into tears and celebrated with excitement once the captain broadcasted over the radio, We found a kid, he’s alive, he’s alive, Walker said. Then we asked, Where’s the rest of them?