15-Year-Old Alaska Boy Rescued After Two Days Clinging to Capsized Boat in Freezing Bering Sea

A 15-year-old boy from Savoonga, Alaska, has survived a harrowing ordeal in the Bering Sea after spending nearly two days clinging to the overturned hull of a capsized fishing boat in freezing conditions.

Derek Parker Aghnaanga was halibut fishing on September 4, 2026, with his older brother, 35-year-old Sidney Kulowiyi, and a cousin when their small 18-foot boat capsized near St. Lawrence Island.

The accident left Derek stranded in the frigid waters, where he held onto the overturned vessel for roughly two days without food or drinking water. The extreme cold created a serious risk of hypothermia as he waited for help.

Tragically, Derek’s older brother and cousin did not survive the incident. Their bodies were later recovered from the area.

Derek’s ordeal finally came to an end on September 7, when the U.S. Coast Guard spotted him during the search. The vessel Northwest Explorer then approached the overturned boat and rescued the teenager.

When Derek was brought aboard, he was showing signs of hypothermia. Rescuers immediately worked to warm him, using blankets and thermal packs as they provided emergency care.

After enduring nearly two days alone in the unforgiving waters of the Bering Sea, Derek’s rescue brought a moment of relief to a tragedy that claimed the lives of two members of his family.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly conditions can become life-threatening in Alaska’s remote waters, where freezing temperatures and rough seas can turn a fishing trip into a fight for survival.

Source: NDTV