A 15-year-old boy has been rescued after clinging to a capsized boat for roughly two days in Alaska's Bering Sea. Derek Parker Aghnaanga was found Monday by a fishing vessel near St. Lawrence Island, approximately 48 hours after his own boat capsized while he was out fishing with his older brother and cousin.
Both of Aghnaanga's family members died in the incident. The teenager told rescuers that his cousin had also held onto the overturned vessel but did not survive until the rescue. The water temperature was around 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit).
The U.S. Coast Guard had begun searching for the missing skiff on Monday morning after family members reported the group overdue. The three had departed from the village of Savoonga on St. Lawrence Island on Friday and were expected to return early Sunday.
Adam White, captain of the fishing boat The Northwest Explorer that rescued Aghnaanga, described the teenager as "one tough kid." White stated that Aghnaanga, despite shivering intensely, had mentioned his brother was under the skiff and his cousin had slipped away the previous night.
The Coast Guard confirmed that one of its aircrews spotted the boy on Monday morning and deployed a raft and supplies before alerting The Northwest Explorer. When Aghnaanga was brought aboard the fishing vessel, he was exhibiting symptoms of hypothermia and was treated with blankets and hot packs by the crew.
Fishing is described as a vital part of the culture and survival in Savoonga, a village of about 800 residents where employment opportunities are limited. Residents often share their catches with others in the community. Aghnaanga frequently fished with his 35-year-old brother, Sidney Kulowiyi, who was a commercial fishing captain and was considered a father figure to the younger boy. Their cousin also hailed from Savoonga.