An Alaska teenager managed to survive nearly two days on an overturned fishing boat after a tragic incident at sea. His cousin slipped away during the night, and his older brother remained trapped under the vessel. This harrowing survival story highlights the perils faced by those navigating the icy waters of the Bering Sea.
Derek Parker Aghnaanga, aged 15, was found Monday morning perched on a capsized skiff about four miles east of St. Lawrence Island. The disaster struck during a fishing trip in which he, his 35-year-old brother Sidney Kulowiyi, and their cousin disappeared. The fishing vessel Northwest Explorer played a crucial role in his rescue.
“Through the teeth chattering, he had mentioned that his brother was still under the skiff,” recounted Adam White, captain of the fishing vessel Northwest Explorer, in an interview with KTUU-TV. “And then he said that, in the previous night, before our rescue, that his cousin had slipped away.”
A GoFundMe page organized by family members revealed that Aghnaanga attempted to hold onto his deceased brother and cousin until their bodies were eventually recovered by rescuers.
The U.S. Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircrew from Air Station Kodiak played a critical role in the rescue. They located Aghnaanga on the overturned boat, dropping a survival raft and equipment while deploying flares to guide the Northwest Explorer to his location.
Crew members on the Northwest Explorer brought Aghnaanga to safety, recovering the bodies of Kulowiyi and the cousin. Aghnaanga showed symptoms of hypothermia upon rescue. The crew took measures to warm him using blankets and hot packs. He was then transported to Nome for further care.
The three departed from the remote Alaska Native village of Savoonga on a fishing trip Friday, intending to return early Sunday. They were reported missing by family members Sunday night. This led to a search operation involving the Coast Guard, Alaska State Troopers, and various state and local agencies.
Colleen Walker, an aunt to the siblings, expressed the community’s relief and joy upon hearing the news of Aghnaanga’s rescue. Kulowiyi was described as a humble commercial fishing captain, a provider for Savoonga, a village reliant on halibut fishing.
“We all cried and jumped for joy when the captain announced on the radio, ‘We found a kid, he’s alive, he’s alive,'” Walker shared with The Associated Press, recounting the emotions of family members listening to the rescue.
Kulowiyi leaves behind children, and a family fundraiser has been established. As of Monday morning, it had raised over $42,000 toward a goal of $45,000.
Rear Adm. Bob Little from the Coast Guard Arctic District expressed condolences to those affected. The district coordinated the search efforts alongside the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, the Alaska Air National Guard’s 176th Wing, Alaska State Troopers, and local Savoonga authorities.
The cause of the skiff’s capsizing remains undetermined as reported by the Coast Guard and Alaska State Troopers.