Coast Guard Suspends Search for Crew of Capsized Boat in Alaska
On Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard announced the suspension of its search for five individuals after their commercial fishing vessel capsized in Alaska.
An early Sunday mayday call was received from the crew of the 50-foot fishing boat Wind Walker, who reported that the vessel was capsizing in waters just south of Couverden Point in southeast Alaska.
The location of the capsizing experienced severe snowfall, winds reaching up to 60 mph, and six-foot seas that day.
“We grieve with and express our solidarity with the friends and family of those we could not locate during the past 24 hours,” stated Chief Warrant Officer James Koon, who coordinates search and rescue missions for the Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard’s efforts included nearly 24 hours of searching using both boats and helicopters over an expanse of more than 108 nautical square miles.
On Sunday, the Coast Guard confirmed that five people were on board the vessel at the time it capsized.
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During the search, seven empty cold-water immersion suits and two strobe lights were found in the water within the search area; however, there has been no evidence of the boat or its crew, according to the Coast Guard.
