2 dead, 3 rescued from overturned ship in near-freezing waters off Alaska coast

Two people died and three people were rescued from an overturned ship in near-freezing waters off the coast of Alaska, officials say.

According to a statement from the U.S. Coast Guard following the incident, the U.S. Coast Guard and its partner agencies responded to a call for help for the capsized vessel near Chichagof Island in southern Alaska early Tuesday evening at approximately 4:48 p.m. local time.

Initial weather on site was reported as “8-10 knot winds, 9 foot seas, water temperature 44 degrees and air temperature 31 degrees,” authorities said.

“An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew departing from Air Station Sitka arrived on scene at 5:15 p.m. and removed the three individuals from the water at 5:50 p.m.,” authorities said. “Coast Guard cutters Douglas Denman (WPC 1149) and Kukui (WLB 203) and an HC-130 from Air Force Station Kodiak also responded Tuesday evening, tracking the vessel’s drift and searching the area near the overturned vessel for the two missing people away. Air Station Sitka conducted additional searches Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.”

After failing to find the two missing passengers, the Sitka Fire Department along with Alaska Wildlife Troopers arrived on scene early Wednesday afternoon and used an unmanned underwater drone to find the two deceased people in the ship’s cabin.

“It was with heavy hearts that we received word from our search partners at the Sitka Fire Department about the two individuals in the cabin,” said Coast Guard Capt. Darwin Jensen, commander of Sector Southeast Alaska. “We send our support and strength to the family members during this time and thank our partner agencies for their support in this case.”

According to U.S. Coast Guard officials, recovery efforts for the deceased will begin once conditions on the ground improve, and their identities have not yet been released.

The investigation into the incident is currently ongoing.