A 15-year-old who had been trapped for three days atop a capsized fishing boat in the in the frigid waters off St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, was rescued on Monday by the U.S. Coast Guard and a good Samaritan boat. Video shows the moment the teenager was saved and taken aboard a boat to safety.
JUNEAU, Alaska — The Coast Guard and Good Samaritans rescued a teen found sitting on top of a capsized fishing boat in the frigid waters off St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, near the U.S.-Russia maritime border.
The 15-year-old was rescued and the bodies of two other people were recovered after being at sea for three days. The Coast Guard said their 18-foot fishing vessel departed the city of Savoonga on Friday, Sep. 4.
FILE – SAINT PAUL, ALASKA – MARCH 1: Fishing boats near the closed king crab plant in Saint Paul, Alaska on March 1, 2025.
((Photo by Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post via Getty Images) / Getty Images)
The search and rescue mission began Sunday when Alaska State Troopers notified the Coast Guard that the boat was overdue.
The teen was spotted by a Coast Guard plane on Monday around 10:30 a.m. local time, which directed a nearby Good Samaritan vessel to the stranded survivor. The teen was experiencing hypothermia.
According to data from NOAA, water temperatures in the area were in the 40s.
The teen and the bodies of the two victims were taken to Nome, Alaska.
File – Utqiagvik, Alaska—known as the land of the
“Our hearts go out to the families, friends, and communities affected by the tragic loss of these two mariners,” Rear Adm. Bob Little, Commander of the Arctic District said in a Coast Guard news release.
“We are grateful for the incredible efforts of the motor vessel Northwest Explorer, Federal, State, Village first responders and mission partners who assisted in the effort that resulted in a life saved.”