Alaska Teen Survives Days Atop Overturned Skiff in Bering Sea as Two Relatives Perish

A 15-year-old boy has been rescued from the freezing waters of the Bering Sea after surviving for days atop an overturned fishing skiff, enduring harsh subarctic conditions while his older brother and cousin tragically lost their lives.

The survivor, identified as Derek Parker Aghnaanga, was located on Monday morning clinging to the hull of the capsized vessel approximately four miles east of St. Lawrence Island. His recovery brought an end to an urgent multi-agency search that began after the trio failed to return from what was intended to be a weekend fishing venture.

According to rescuers, the teenager was suffering from hypothermia and shivering intensely when help arrived. Despite his weakened physical state, he immediately informed the crew aboard the responding vessel about the fate of his two companions, who had been thrown into the water alongside him when their boat overturned.

Adam White, the captain of the Good Samaritan fishing vessel Northwest Explorer that assisted in the recovery, described the distressing moments following the discovery. White noted that through chattering teeth, the young survivor explained that his brother remained trapped beneath the overturned hull and that his cousin had slipped away into the water the preceding night.

Further details shared by relatives through an online fundraiser revealed the harrowing nature of the teenager's ordeal. Family accounts indicated that the 15-year-old made desperate attempts to hold onto his older brother and cousin after they succumbed to the elements, fighting to keep them close before emergency responders finally reached the remote area.

The rescue effort was initiated when an HC-130 Hercules aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak spotted the capsized vessel and the solitary survivor stranded on top. Recognizing the critical nature of the situation, the aircrew deployed a survival raft alongside emergency supplies directly to the scene.

To facilitate a swift maritime recovery, the Coast Guard aviators dropped illumination flares, effectively guiding the Northwest Explorer through the surrounding waters to the exact coordinates of the capsized skiff. The crew of the fishing vessel was able to pull Aghnaanga safely on board and subsequently recover the bodies of the two deceased mariners.

Once safely on the deck of the Northwest Explorer, the crew immediately initiated emergency warming protocols to counteract the severe hypothermia Aghnaanga had developed during his prolonged exposure to the elements. Rescuers wrapped the teenager in thermal blankets and applied hot packs to gradually elevate his body temperature as the vessel navigated toward medical care in Nome.

The ill-fated voyage had begun days earlier, on Friday, when Aghnaanga, his 35-year-old brother Sidney Kulowiyi, and their cousin set out from the remote Alaska Native village of Savoonga. The party had planned to conclude their fishing trip and return home by early Sunday, but their failure to arrive prompted concerned relatives to alert emergency services Sunday evening.

The missing report triggered a wide-scale emergency response coordinated across several state and federal entities. The Coast Guard Arctic District worked in direct partnership with the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, the Alaska Air National Guard’s 176th Wing, the Alaska State Troopers, and local municipal authorities based in Savoonga to scour the maritime corridors around the island.

The tragedy has deeply affected the remote community of Savoonga, an isolated settlement of roughly 800 residents situated on St. Lawrence Island. In such coastal Arctic villages, commercial and subsistence marine activities—particularly halibut fishing—serve as an essential economic foundation and a primary source of sustenance for local families.

Kulowiyi was widely known throughout the small village as a dedicated provider and a humble commercial fishing captain. Family members reflected on his deep commitment to his craft, noting that he was a vital contributor to the local maritime economy who left behind several children following the maritime disaster.

Colleen Walker, an aunt of the brothers, recounted the emotional moment relatives learned that the teenager had been found alive against formidable odds. Listening intently to the maritime radio frequencies used by the rescue units, family members broke into tears of relief upon hearing the vessel captain confirm that the youth had survived the ordeal.

Military leadership overseeing the Arctic response expressed profound sorrow regarding the fatal outcome for the two adult mariners. Rear Adm. Bob Little, commander of the Coast Guard Arctic District, extended formal condolences to the grieving families and the wider island community that has been left to mourn the loss.

In the wake of the incident, a community-driven fundraising initiative was organized by family members to assist with upcoming expenses and support Kulowiyi’s surviving children. The effort quickly gained traction, gathering tens of thousands of dollars and nearing its overall goal as donors and neighboring communities rallied behind the bereaved household.

Maritime authorities have not yet determined the sequence of events that led to the skiff capsizing in the open water. Both the U.S. Coast Guard and the Alaska State Troopers have confirmed that the underlying causes of the marine accident remain under review.