Teenager Rescued from Capsized Skiff in Bering Sea

An Alaskan teenager recently recounted a harrowing experience of surviving nearly two days on an overturned fishing skiff. Reports reveal that during the ordeal, his cousin slipped away during the night, while his older brother remained trapped beneath the vessel after they were all thrown into the icy waters of the Bering Sea.

Derek Parker Aghnaanga, just 15, was found Monday morning on the capsized skiff, located about four miles east of St. Lawrence Island. This discovery came after he and his 35-year-old brother, Sidney Kulowiyi, along with their cousin, failed to return from a fishing trip.

According to Adam White, captain of the fishing vessel Northwest Explorer, Aghnaanga shared through chattering teeth that his brother was still under the skiff, and he mentioned that his cousin had slipped away the previous night, right before the rescue.

A GoFundMe page set up by family members indicated that Aghnaanga had desperately tried to hold on to both his brother and cousin after their passing, before their bodies were recovered.

Details of the Rescue

A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircrew from Air Station Kodiak spotted Aghnaanga on the overturned boat. They dropped a survival raft and equipment, then used flares to help guide the Northwest Explorer to his location.

When crew members brought Aghnaanga on board, he was showing signs of hypothermia. They promptly wrapped him in blankets and applied hot packs to raise his body temperature as they transported him to Nome.

The trio had set out from the remote village of Savoonga for a fishing expedition on Friday, intending to return by early Sunday. When they didn’t arrive as planned, family members raised the alarm Sunday night, leading to a coordinated search involving the Coast Guard and local authorities.

Colleen Walker, an aunt of the brothers, described Kulowiyi as a dedicated commercial fishing captain and a vital provider for their small community, which is heavily reliant on halibut fishing.

Walker expressed a mix of emotions when the rescue captain announced over the radio that they had found Aghnaanga alive. “We all cried and jumped for joy,” she recounted, highlighting the relief felt by family members during the tense search.

Unfortunately, Kulowiyi left behind children, as noted in the family fundraiser, which had surpassed its goal of $45,000 by raising over $42,000 as of Monday morning.

Rear Adm. Bob Little, the commander of the Coast Guard Arctic District, extended his condolences to the families and communities impacted by the tragic loss of the two mariners, emphasizing the profound sadness surrounding this incident.

The search and rescue operation involved collaboration between the Coast Guard Arctic District, the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, Alaska Air National Guard’s 176th Wing, Alaska State Troopers, and local Savoonga authorities.

As for the cause of the skiff capsizing, neither the Coast Guard nor Alaska State Troopers have provided any details yet.