Alaska Teen Survives 62 Hours at Sea After Skiff Capsizes, Family Mourns Two Relatives

On Sept. 4 a halibut-fishing skiff capsized near St. Lawrence Island, throwing fifteen-year-old Derek Parker Aghnaanga, his older brother Sidney Kulowiyi and cousin Barton Rookok into the frigid Bering Sea. A tangled fishing line may have caused the motor to stall, leading to the overturn. After three days adrift, the Coast Guard found Aghnaanga sitting on the overturned vessel on Sept. 7, following a tip from Alaska State Troopers.

The nearby research vessel Northwest Explorer was tasked with the rescue, wrapping the teen in blankets and keeping him conscious as he was flown to Nome. He endured 62 hours without sustenance, relying on prayer, and suffered hypothermia symptoms. The bodies of his brother and cousin were subsequently retrieved, and a GoFundMe campaign was launched to support the family and cover funeral costs.