Teen Survives Days on an Overturned Boat in Frigid Alaska Waters

A Coast Guard pilot had been searching the Bering Sea for three missing boaters when he spotted a 15-year-old sitting on top of an overturned fishing boat four miles east of St. Lawrence Island. He had survived for days in frigid waters after the 18-foot fishing vessel capsized. His older brother and cousin, who had been aboard with him, did not survive. The teenager was suffering from hypothermia when rescuers finally reached him, but he was alive.

The rescue has been called extraordinary by those who witnessed it. Behind the dramatic video of a teenager being pulled from an overturned boat is a much larger story about a missing fishing trip, brutal conditions, a family tragedy, and a search effort that ultimately found one person alive.

The Fishing Trip Began in Savoonga

The three boaters left Savoonga, a small community on St. Lawrence Island, on an 18-foot fishing skiff in the early morning hours on Friday, September 4. The trip was not unusual for the young crew. According to family members, the three were going out to fish for halibut, with the teenager hoping to earn some money from the trip. They were expected to return early Sunday morning. As the clock moved toward sunset on Sunday evening, concern began to grow.

At 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Alaska State Troopers notified the Coast Guard’s Arctic District Command Center. The Coast Guard quickly began coordinating a search with local and state authorities, but poor visibility complicated the effort on Sunday. Meanwhile, the family of the young crew was left on shore without knowing what happened to them or their boat.

The Boat Had Already Been Overturned for Days

Eventually, the Coast Guard was able to pinpoint the location of the boat, roughly four miles east of St. Lawrence Island. Rescue crews immediately noticed that the vessel was upside down.

According to the Coast Guard, an HC-130 Hercules aircraft from Air Station Kodiak spotted the teenager sitting on top of the overturned vessel at approximately 10:30 a.m. Monday. The aircraft crew deployed a raft and survival equipment while the Coast Guard coordinated with a nearby fishing vessel, the Northwest Explorer.

The environment made the rescue even more problematic. St. Lawrence Island is in the Bering Sea, approximately 100 miles from Alaska’s mainland. In fact, the island is far closer to Russia than it is to mainland Alaska. The surrounding waters are notoriously cold, and the Coast Guard pilot who spotted the teenager told news outlets that the water was around 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

His Brother and Cousin Didn't Survive

The survivor was identified as Derek Parker Aghnaanga, a 15-year-old who usually goes by Parker. The Coast Guard was able to pull his brother and cousin from the water, but tragically, neither survived. Officials had not publicly identified the two victims, but both bodies, along with Parker, were transported to Nome aboard the Northwest Explorer.

According to family members, the teen’s older brother passed away shortly after the Alaska boat capsizing. Parker and his cousin were initially able to climb onto the bottom of the capsized vessel, but the cousin eventually slipped off and drowned. Those details have not been independently established by the Coast Guard, so they remain part of the family's account of the tragedy.

Finding Him Was Only the Beginning of the Rescue

Finding the vessel and seeing Parker sitting on top of it was only the beginning of the St. Lawrence Island boat rescue. Once the Coast Guard found Parker, rescuers had to deploy a raft and other pieces of survival equipment. From there, the Coast Guard began coordinating with crew members from the Northwest Explorer. Before leaving the area to refuel, the aircraft crew dropped a line of flares to help guide the vessel toward the overturned skiff.

Captain Adam White later described seeing the unusual object on the horizon before realizing that it was the overturned boat. The crew sounded the vessel's horn as they approached. Video of the rescue, which has been shared with multiple news outlets, shows the teen kneeling on the overturned vessel when rescuers threw him a heaving line and pulled him onto the Northwest Explorer.

While the St. Lawrence Island community mourns the two losses, there’s some solace to be found in the fact that Parker was rescued against all odds. While he did have hypothermia, he’s expected to make a full recovery.

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