In brief
On Saturday, a fishing skiff overturned in the Bering Sea 18‑feet long vessel left 15‑year‑old Derek Aghnaanga adrift, clinging to the overturned boat while his brother and cousin perished. The boy spent over 60 hours in 50‑degree water with signs of hypothermia. A Coast Guard helicopter spotted him on Monday and a nearby rescue vessel pulled him aboard. The incident highlights the risks faced by the small Siberian Yupik community of Savoonga, where fishing sustains families that often lack fresh meat at local stores. Families and Coast Guard officials praised the bravery of the rescuers and the boy’s resilience, noting the community’s continued traditions of fishing and sharing.
On Saturday a 15‑year‑old from Savoonga, Alaska, spent more than a day and a half stranded in the Bering Sea after a small fishing skiff capsized 18 feet off St Lawrence Island. The boy, Derek Parker Aghnaanga, remained on the overturned vessel while his older brother and cousin were lost.
The rescue team began an overnight search on Sunday afternoon when the skiff failed to return as scheduled. A Coast Guard aircrew found Daniel perched atop the overturned boat on Monday morning and a nearby good Samaritan vessel pulled him out of the frigid waters with a pulley system.
The retrieval vessel also recovered the bodies of Aghnaanga’s brother and cousin. Rear Admiral Bob Little, commander of the Coast Guard Arctic District, said, "Our hearts go out to the families, friends, and communities affected by the tragic loss of these two mariners."
The boy showed signs of hypothermia upon rescue. Captain Adam White, who led the rescue vessel, described Aghnaanga as a “tough kid” who had clung to the skiff through darkness and temperatures around 50°F (10 °C). The captain added that the teenager had mentioned his brother was still under the skiff and that his cousin had slipped away that night.
Savoonga—home to roughly 800 residents and primarily inhabited by Siberian Yupik peoples—relies heavily on fishing to supply fresh meat for its community when stores are sparse. A mother, Vina Kulowiyi, said her sons were “born and raised to be providers” and she praised her surviving son’s resilience, noting, "He was never afraid the whole time. He sat praying the whole time."
The incident underlines the dangers that the small fishing community faces in extreme Arctic waters, and the vital role of coast guard and volunteer rescues in saving lives.
