Coast Guard suspends search for 5 people after boat capsizes in Alaska

Dec 02, 2024

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Jack Aylmer Energy Correspondent

By Jack Aylmer (Energy Correspondent), Kalé Carey (Reporter), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

The search for five missing people has been suspended after rough seas and turbulent weather overturned a boat in Alaska just after midnight on Sunday, Dec. 1. A mayday call first alerted the U.S. Coast Guard to Couverden Point where the capsized fishing vessel, “Wind Walker,” was found.

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A crew aboard a 50-foot boat sent out the emergency distress signal just after midnight on Sunday. The Coast Guard responded to the call for help and asked for more information, but all responses went unanswered.

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The Coast Guard began its rescue mission with the help of good Samaritans, fighting heavy snow and up to 60 mph winds to find anyone who had been aboard.

Water and air-based teams were sent in, including an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Sitka, following an urgent broadcast by the Coast Guard.

A ferry vessel known as the AMHS Hubbard responded to the scene first, after overhearing the call and volunteering to help with the mission.

In a press release, the Coast Guard said watchstanders also received an “emergency position-indicating radio beacon alert” coming from the boat. The signal showed its location south of Couverden Point in Icy Strait.

Before being suspended, the search turned up multiple cold water suits and strobe lights floating within the search area, however, no one from the boat had been found.

Tags: Alaska, U.S. Coast Guard

[JACK AYLMER]

THE SEARCH CONTINUES FOR FIVE MISSING PEOPLE AFTER ROUGH SEAS AND WEATHER OVERTURNED A BOAT IN ALASKA.

A MAYDAY CALL FIRST ALERTED THE U-S COAST GUARD TO COUVERDEN POINT WHERE THE CAPSIZED FISHING VESSEL “WIND WALKER” WAS FOUND.

THE EMERGENCY HELP SIGNAL CAME IN FROM THE 50 FOOT BOAT JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT ON SUNDAY…MOMENTS LATER THE COAST GUARD ASKED FOR MORE INFORMATION…BUT ALL RESPONSES FROM THE CREW WENT UNANSWERED.

THE COAST GUARD BEGAN THE RESCUE MISSION WITH GOOD SAMARITANS FIGHTING THE HEAVY SNOW AND SIXTY MILE PER HOUR WINDS TO FIND ANYONE ONBOARD.

WATER AND AIR BASED CREWS were SENT IN…INCLUDING A HELICOPTER BEING DEPLOYED FOLLOWING AN URGENT BROADCAST BY THE COAST GUARD.

A FERRY VESSEL HEARD THE CALL AND VOLUNTEERED THEIR HELP.

SO FAR RESPONDERS FOUND MULTIPLE COLD WATER SUITS AND STROBE LIGHTS FLOATING IN THE WATER WITHIN THE SEARCH AREA.

BUT NO ONE FROM THE BOAT HAS BEEN FOUND.

IN A PRESS RELEASE–THE COAST GUARD SAYS THEY ALSO RECEIVED A RADIO SIGNAL FROM THE BOAT ORIGINATING IN THE ICY STRAIT–JUST SOUTH OF POINT COUVERDEN.

PEOPLE WHO KNEW THE CREW REPORTED THERE WERE ONLY FIVE ONBOARD

BUT OFFICIALS HAVE NOT CONFIRMED THAT NUMBER.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M JACK AYLMER.

Coast Guard suspends search for 5 people after boat capsizes in Alaska

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