In a devastating incident off the coast of Alaska, a luxury charter fishing boat met a tragic fate.
The accident resulted in the loss of one life and left four individuals missing, casting a dark shadow over the weekend.
The alarm was raised on Sunday, May 28, when Kingfisher Charters, a renowned fishing charter company based in Sitka, reported that a boat carrying five people had failed to return to shore. Responding swiftly, the Coast Guard launched a search operation to locate the missing vessel.
On Monday, May 29, authorities made a grim discovery as they recovered the lifeless body of a man, who was not wearing a life vest. The boat, a 30-foot aluminum charter, was found partially submerged near Low Island, approximately one mile east of Shoals Point on Kruzof Island. Its last known sighting was near Sitka, a city and borough in Alaska, close to the state capital, Juneau.
According to the Coast Guard, the ill-fated boat had four passengers and a master on board. Despite dedicating over 20 hours to an extensive search, covering an area of approximately 825 square miles with the aid of helicopters and boats, the Coast Guard reluctantly decided to suspend the search for the missing individuals at around 9:30 p.m. on Monday.
The search mission faced treacherous conditions, with waves reaching heights of six to 11 feet during the boat’s departure on Sunday, as confirmed by Petty Officer Gray.
Captain Darwin Jensen, the Captain of the Port in Southeast Alaska, expressed profound regret over the suspension of the search. He offered his deepest sympathies to the grieving loved ones and expressed gratitude to the community partners and kind-hearted Samaritan vessels who assisted in the operation.
For now, the identities of the deceased man and the four missing individuals remain undisclosed to the public.
Renowned for their all-inclusive fishing packages and guided trips on 30-foot power boats capable of accommodating up to six anglers, Kingfisher Charters has left a void in the hearts of the fishing community and beyond.
