Three people were rescued Jan. 8 near Chichagof Island in Southeast Alaska and two dead located inside their overturned vessel, according to Coast Guard officials. A search over 850 square miles to relocate the capsized boat and two victims was suspended Friday afternoon, pending development of new information.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter air crew from Coast Guard Air Station Sitka rescued three people from an overturned vessel around 5:50 p.m. Tuesday night, and conducted multiple searches for two remaining people into Wednesday morning. Survivors include Tyson Ross, Jason Ipock, and James Sturm.
Sitka Fire Department and Alaska State Troopers assisted in the search and located the two people deceased inside of the vessel’s cabin via an unmanned underwater drone Wednesday afternoon.
The Sitka Fire Department and Alaska State Troopers assisted in the search and located the two people deceased inside of the vessel’s cabin via an unmanned underwater drone Wednesday afternoon.
The crew of the Coast Guard cutter Douglas Denman maintained position alongside the overturned vessel until Wednesday night, until they were forced to seek safe harbor after on-scene weather conditions deteriorated, Coast Guard officials said.
Searches were conducted on Thursday with no results by both the Douglas Denman crew and a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter. An additional helicopter air crew searched on Friday, and again yielded no results in relocating the vessel.
“We are thankful that we were able to get on scene and save three people before the storm rolled in,” said Capt. Darwin Jensen, commander of Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska. “We truly appreciate the efforts of our partners who assisted in this response and attended to those who were rescued. We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends impacted by this event.”
The cutters Denman and Kukui and an HC-130 from Air Station Kodiak first responded Tuesday night, tracked the vessel’s drift, and searched the area near the overturned vessel for the two missing people. Air Station Sitka conducted additional searches Tuesday night and Wednesday mornings.
Sitka Fire Department arrived on scene with Alaska Wildlife Troopers early Wednesday afternoon and deployed the unmanned underwater drone to find the two deceased individuals in the cabin of the vessel.
Initial weather on the scene Tuesday was reported as 8-10 knot winds, 9 ft. seas, water temperature at 44 degrees, and air temperature at 31 degrees.
