Alaska teen rescued after boat capsizes, reportedly killing his brother and cousin

(KTLA) -- Rescuers traversed through the frigid cold waters of the Bering Sea to rescue a teen who survived after a boat capsized, reportedly killing the teen’s brother and cousin.

The United States Coast Guard said in a preliminary statement that crews were alerted to an overdue vessel by Alaska State Troopers around 8:30 p.m. this past Sunday, Sept. 6.

It had last been seen when it departed from Savoonga, one of the two main towns on St. Lawrence Island, on Friday, USCG officials said, noting that the three people onboard were scheduled to return by 3 a.m. that Sunday morning.

St. Lawrence Island is located west of mainland Alaska and is actually closer to Asia than it is to the U.S., lying less than 40 miles from Russia.

Coast Guard Arctic District Command Center watchstanders were unable to launch an air rescue unit until the following morning due to weather conditions and poor visibility; however, as soon as it was safe, the HC-130 Hercules took off from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak and began the search.

Around 10:30 a.m. Monday, hours after the search efforts began, aerial crews were able to locate the boat, USCG said. Of the three initially onboard, only one was found “sitting on top of the capsized vessel” roughly four miles east of St. Lawrence Island.

A life raft and other pieces of survival equipment were deployed by USCG with the help of a nearby Good Samaritan vessel called the Northwest Explorer.

The Coast Guard confirmed that, of the three people on the boat, only one 15-year-old survived, and he was experiencing symptoms of hypothermia when rescued. He was taken to Nome onboard the Northwest Explorer for medical care.

Officials also verified that the two other occupants of the boat were found in the water unresponsive. They too were taken to Nome on the Northwest Explorer.

“Our hearts go out to the families, friends, and communities affected by the tragic loss of these two mariners," said Rear Adm. Bob Little, the commander of USCG’s Arctic District. “We are grateful for the incredible efforts of the motor vessel Northwest Explorer, Federal, State, Village first responders and mission partners who assisted in the effort that resulted in a life saved.”

All in all, two HC-130 airplanes, two MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters from Air Station Kodiak and a 211th RQS HC-130 with 212th RQS Guardian Angels were launched to assist in the rescue.

While authorities did not disclose any information about the three people onboard the boat, the Anchorage Daily News reported that it was carrying “two brothers and a cousin” when it capsized.

The outlet spoke to the captain of the Northwest Explorer, Adam White, who said he immediately changed course after receiving an urgent message from the Coast Guard regarding the situation. Coast Guard crews in the HC-130 were unable to make the rescue because they needed to refuel; however they deployed a line of flares to guide the Northwest Explorer.

It took White the “longest four hours ever” to get to the coordinates provided by USCG, he told the Anchorage Daily News, but eventually, the crew of his 168-foot fishing vessel spotted the young survivor waving through binoculars.

According to White, the teen told him he and the other two were fishing for halibut when the boat capsized and that he stayed on for several days.

“That is one remarkably tough kid, is all I can say,” White said.

There was no word on what caused the trio's boat to initially capsize.

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