Coast Guard Rescues Fishing Lodge Anglers From Capsized Boat Incident

Here’s the official U.S. Coast Guard release:

JUNEAU, Alaska – The Coast Guard rescued two overdue boaters on shore in Totem Bay, Alaska Sunday after their vessel sank.

A Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team-Seattle 29-foot Response Boat-Small crew, forward deployed to Petersburg, Alaska, located the two boaters on shore at 11:13 a.m., embarked them, and transported them to EMS in Petersburg. Both men were reported to be in stable condition, one with a minor hand injury.

Sector Juneau watchstanders received a report of two overdue boaters from fellow guests at Island Point Lodge at approximately 06:55 a.m. Sunday. The two boaters were reported to have left the lodge Saturday morning in an 18-foot aluminum vessel and were expected back by Saturday evening.

Watchstanders launched the MSST Seattle boat crew, a Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew, and Coast Guard Cutter Elderberry. 

“These two men were incredibly fortunate to be found when their float plan was unknown,” said Ensign Maximilian Carfagno Sector Juneau command duty officer. “The quick launch of our assets and the teamwork among our crews helped in the timeliness of this rescue.”

And here are a few more details from KFSK radio:

Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department spokesman David Berg said local volunteers responded to meet the Coast Guard Sunday.

“These two had been out in this lodge’s boat and were fishing,” Berg said. “The boat capsized. They spent a couple hours in the water. Fortunately they were well dressed for weather with rain gear and not a lot other emergency equipment available with them. A lot of that went down with the boat. But they were able to get a small buoy and swim to shore and spent the evening, all night on the beach.”

Berg said the two used that buoy to get the attention of rescuers. They were not transported to the local medical center but returned to the lodge.