(GoRealNewsNow.com) – A tragedy has occurred in US waters close to Sitka, Alaska, when a vessel capsized, with the United States Coast Guard managing to save three people while two others perished.
Specifically, the United States Coast Guard was called to a marine accident near Sitka, Alaska, where they discovered an overturned vessel.
An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Sitka was dispatched to the site near Chichagof Island at 5:15 p.m. local time.
By approximately 5:50 p.m., they had managed to rescue three survivors from the icy waters.
These individuals were promptly taken to the Sitka airport, where they received necessary medical treatment.
Coast Guard Captain Darwin Jensen, the commander of Sector Southeast Alaska, later reported that the two missing persons were found deceased inside the boat’s cabin the next day.
“It was with a heavy heart that we received news about the two people inside the cabin from our Sitka Fire Department search partners. We send our support and strength to the family members at this time and thank our partner agencies for their assistance in this case,” Jensen stated.
The initial report of the overturned vessel came to the Coast Guard watchstanders at the Sector Southeast Alaska command center around 4:48 p.m. Tuesday.
Responding swiftly, Coast Guard Cutters Douglas Denman and Kukui and an HC-130 from Air Station Kodiak were dispatched to the area.
They began tracking the vessel’s drift, searching extensively for any other survivors.
Additional search efforts were conducted by Air Station Sitka later on Tuesday night and the following morning.
By Wednesday afternoon, there were still two individuals unaccounted for. In a collaborative effort, the Sitka Fire Department and Alaska Wildlife troopers employed an unmanned underwater drone to probe the interior of the vessel.
This led to the unfortunate discovery of the two individuals.
The Coast Guard announced that recovery operations for the deceased would commence once conditions at the site became more favorable.
They also reported that the water temperature at the time of the incident was around 44 degrees Fahrenheit, with an air temperature of 31 degrees.
The initial weather conditions included 8-10 knot winds and seas reaching 9 feet.