A Coast Guard search is underway for five people missing after the fishing vessel Wind Walker capsized near Couverden Point in Alaska’s Icy Strait. The U.S. Coast Guard received a distress call at 12:10 a.m. Sunday. The call reports a 50-foot fishing boat overturning.
The Coast Guard activates as an emergency response: an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and a 45-foot Response boat medium search the area. The ferry vessel AMHS Hubbard also responds, arriving on the scene ahead of other search assets.
Search crews recovered seven cold-water immersion suits and two strobe lights in the water. They found no sign of the missing individuals. The Coast Guard Cutter Healy became the main search platform due to its resilience in harsh weather conditions.
Heavy snow, winds of 56-60 mph, and six-foot seas challenge the search efforts. The Coast Guard exhausts all available resources to find the missing crew members. They work to bring them home safely.
The Coast Guard urges anyone with information to contact Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska at (907) 463-2980. The ongoing Coast Guard search continues, hoping to locate the missing individuals soon. The search area is vast, and the Coast Guard is working tirelessly to cover all possible locations. The crew’s families await news, and the Coast Guard is committed to finding the missing individuals.
The Coast Guard is also investigating the cause of the capsizing. They will review the vessel’s maintenance records, weather conditions, and other factors to determine what led to the accident.
As the search continues, the community is coming together to support the families of the missing crew members. Local businesses and residents offer assistance, and a fund has been set up to support the families during this difficult time.
This news story was originally published by Alaska’s News Source.
