Alaska teen rescued after 3 days in frigid waters reveals tragic end for 2 family members
Teen Survives Three-Day Stranded in Bering Sea; Two Family Members Lost
A 15‑year‑old Alaskan teenager was rescued after spending nearly 48 hours clinging to a capsized fishing skiff in the icy waters of the Bering Sea. His older brother and cousin died in the incident, and their bodies were later recovered by Coast Guard and fishing‑boat crews.
The skiff, named Northwest Explorer, was out near St. Lawrence Island when it overturned on Friday. The vessel, which had departed the remote village of Savoonga with Derek Parker Aghnaanga (15), his 35‑year‑old brother Sidney Kulowiyi, and an unnamed cousin, was expected to return early Sunday. When the trio failed to report, family and authorities launched a search on Sunday night that involved the U.S. Coast Guard, Alaska State Troopers, the Alaska Air National Guard and local rescue agencies.
A Coast Guard HC‑130 Hercules from Air Station Kodiak first spotted the overturned skiff on Monday morning, roughly four miles east of St. Lawrence Island. The aircraft dropped a survival raft and emergency gear and used flares to signal the Northwest Explorer to the location. Crew members on the fishing vessel, under the command of Captain Adam White, pulled the teenager to safety. While the rescue team was able to rescue Derek, the bodies of Sidney and the cousin were recovered from the skiff.
Captain White, speaking to Anchorage affiliate KT UU‑TV, described the teen’s frantic account: “Through the teeth chattering, he had mentioned that his brother was still under the skiff,” and added that the teenager had told the crew that his cousin had slipped away the previous night. “And then he said that, in the previous night, before our rescue, that his cousin had slipped away.”
During the rescue, Aghnaanga was found with symptoms of hypothermia. Rescue teams wrapped him in blankets, applied hot packs and transported him to Nome for medical evaluation. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page organized by relatives reported that the teenager had tried to hold onto his brother and cousin after they died, before their bodies were recovered.
The tragedy has prompted a community response. Family members have raised more than $42,000 toward a $45,000 goal to help the families affected. “We all cried and jumped for joy when the captain announced on the radio, ‘We found a kid, he’s alive, he’s alive,’” said Aunt Colleen Walker, who described Sidney as a “humble commercial fishing captain and provider for Savoonga.” The village of Savoonga, home to roughly 800 residents, relies heavily on halibut fishing, making the loss a blow to the local economy and community spirit.
Rear Admiral Bob Little, commander of the Coast Guard Arctic District, released a statement noting the loss: “Our hearts go out to the families, friends, and communities affected by the tragic loss of these two mariners.” The Arctic District coordinated the search with the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, the 176th Wing of the Alaska Air National Guard, and local authorities.
The cause of the skiff’s capsizing remains unknown. Neither the Coast Guard nor Alaska State Troopers have issued a statement on what led to the vessel’s overturning. The incident underscores the dangers of fishing in the Bering Sea, where frigid waters and unpredictable weather can quickly turn a routine outing into a life‑threatening emergency.