A 15-year-old boy has been rescued after spending two days adrift in the frigid waters off the coast of Alaska, but his brother and cousin, who were also on board, did not survive. The teenager was found exhibiting signs of hypothermia, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The fishing boat carrying the three young men capsized on Saturday. The rescued boy, identified by his mother as Aghnaanga, clung to the overturned skiff through darkness and water temperatures around 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) for two days without food or water.
"Through the teeth chattering, he had mentioned that his brother was still under the skiff," said Adam White, captain of the fishing boat that ultimately rescued the boy. "And then he said that, in the previous night, before our rescue, that his cousin had slipped away." White described the survivor as "one tough kid."
Aghnaanga's mother, Vina Kulowiyi, wrote on Facebook that her sons were engaged in a tradition of fishing to provide for their community in Savoonga, a village of about 800 residents on St. Lawrence Island. The village is primarily inhabited by Siberian Yupik peoples, and both English and St. Lawrence Island Yupik are spoken there. Kulowiyi stated that her sons were born and raised to be providers, a custom passed down through generations, emphasizing the importance of hunting and sharing resources within the community.
Rear Adm. Bob Little, commander of the Coast Guard's Arctic District, expressed condolences. "Our hearts go out to the families, friends, and communities affected by the tragic loss of these two mariners," he said. The rescued teenager is recovering at home, with his mother describing him as "never afraid the whole time" and that he "sat praying the whole time."