Full Breakdown
Teen Survives Days on Capsized Skiff in Alaska’s Bering Sea; Two Family Members Drown
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
A 15-year-old from Savoonga on St. Lawrence Island survived by clinging to an overturned 18-foot fishing skiff in the Bering Sea. The boat capsized on Saturday night; the teen was located on Monday afternoon, four miles east of the island, and was hoisted aboard the nearby fishing vessel Northwest Explorer. He was suffering from moderate hypothermia. The bodies of his older brother and cousin were later recovered.
Background & Context
Halibut fishing is a cultural and economic mainstay for the roughly 800-person community of Savoonga. The three men departed the village on Friday for a routine fishing trip and were expected back early Sunday.
Timeline
- Friday: Skiff departs Savoonga.
- Saturday night: Vessel capsizes far offshore.
- Sunday night: Family reports the three missing; Coast Guard initiates search.
- Monday morning: Coast Guard aircrew spots the overturned skiff and drops a raft and survival gear.
- Monday afternoon: Northwest Explorer locates the teen, pulls him aboard, and provides blankets and hot packs.
- Following hours: Bodies of the brother and cousin are recovered and transported to Nome.
Data & Statistics
- Water temperature: ~10 °C (50 °F).
- Distance from island to rescue site: ~4 mi.
- Duration the teen remained on the skiff: “roughly two days” to “close to three days.”
- Survivors: 1; Fatalities: 2.
Official Statements & Responses
The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed the rescue, noting that an HC-130 Hercules aircrew located the survivor and coordinated with the Northwest Explorer, a “good Samaritan” vessel. Rear Adm. Bob Little, commander of the Coast Guard Arctic District, expressed sympathy for the families and gratitude for the combined effort of responders. Lt. Cmdr. Jonathon Resch described the rescue as an “emotional roller coaster,” emphasizing both the joy of finding the teen alive and the remorse over the loss of the other two boaters.
On-the-Ground Reports
Family members said the teen’s brother reported the motor became tangled in a fishing line before the vessel flipped. The cousin reportedly panicked and jumped from the skiff, drowning shortly thereafter. An aunt, Collen Walker, highlighted the community’s reliance on fishing and described the teen’s older brother, Sidney Kulowiyi, as a “humble and loving provider” who acted as a father figure after their own father’s death.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Verbatim Quotes
- “Through the teeth chattering, he had mentioned that his brother was still under the skiff,” — Adam White, captain of the vessel that found the teenager
- “We are beyond excited and beyond grateful that we found him, and at the same time, we are overwhelmingly remorseful that we didn't find the other two in time,” — Lt. Cmdr. Jonathon Resch
