5 People Missing After Fishing Boat Capsizes in Freezing Waters Near Alaska, Says U.S. Coast Guard

Mar. 15, 2025

A United States Coast Guard logo is displayed on a rescue boat.Photo:Kevin Carter/Getty

Kevin Carter/Getty

The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for five people in freezing waters near Alaska.The crew of the 50-foot Wind Walker sent out a mayday call saying “they were overturning” at 12:10 a.m. near Couverden Point, Alaska on Sunday, Dec. 1, the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska stated in arelease.

Despite the best efforts of the Coast Guard, the crew then stopped responding, the release added.

The incident occurred under local weather conditions of heavy snow, gusts of up to 60 mph and 6-foot high seas, according to the Coast Guard.

“The watchstanders attempted to gather additional information but received no response,” the U.S. Coast Guard said. They added that an “emergency position-indicating radio beacon alert” had pinpointed the ship “just south of Point Couverden in Icy Strait.”

Coastguard rescue helicopter in flight.JoeGough/Getty

JoeGough/Getty

The ferry vessel AMHS Hubbard was the first to arrive and assist on the scene, per the release.

So far, seven cold-water immersion suits and two strobe lights have been found in the waters around the vessel’s last known location, according to the Coast Guard.

Up until midnight on Sunday, Dec. 1, the National Weather Service issued a weather warning of winds reaching over 50 mph causing choppy waves in the Couverden Point area,CNNreported.

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In anupdateshared on the Alaskan Coast Guard’s account on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Dec. 1, the authorities wrote: “We are continuing to search for the missing persons near Couverden Pt. USCGC Healy is on scene, and USCGC Douglas Denman is en route to assist. At this time, none of the missing persons have been located.”

The U.S. Coast Guard is asking anyone with information about the incident to reach out to Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska at 907-463-2980.

source: people.com