In a tragedy off the Alaskan coast, a luxury charter fishing boat sunk.
The accident resulted in the loss of one life and left four individuals missing.
On Sunday, May 28, a distress signal was received from Kingfisher Charters, a reputable fishing charter company in Sitka, after a boat carrying five people did not return as anticipated. The Coast Guard mobilized a search and rescue mission to find the missing craft.
A grim discovery was made on Monday, May 29, when the lifeless body of a man, not wearing a life jacket, was recovered. The 30-foot aluminum charter boat was located partially submerged near Low Island, roughly one mile east of Shoals Point on Kruzof Island. The vessel was last seen near Sitka, an Alaskan city and borough near the state capital, Juneau.
According to the Coast Guard, the boat was carrying four passengers and a master. Despite a 20-hour exhaustive search, covering an area of about 825 square miles with helicopters and boats, the search for the missing people was called off around 9:30 p.m. on Monday.
The search encountered hazardous conditions, with waves as high as six to 11 feet at the time of the boat’s departure on Sunday, confirmed by Petty Officer Gray.
Captain Darwin Jensen, the Port Captain in Southeast Alaska, expressed deep regret over the decision to halt the search. He extended his sympathies to the mourning families and thanked the community partners and good Samaritan vessels that participated in the operation.
The identities of the deceased man and the four missing persons are being kept confidential at this point.
Kingfisher Charters is known for their inclusive fishing packages and guided excursions on 30-foot power boats.