The United States Coast Guard (USCG) reported that a search was underway for three occupants of a capsized vessel southwest of Seward.
The agency confirmed that a distress call was heard Wednesday morning from a 21-foot Hewescraft boat near Aialik Bay and immediately issued an urgent broadcast to alert nearby mariners. It also dispatched search crews to the site, approximately 35 miles southwest of Seward.
Rescue teams from Air Station Kodiak were dispatched to the area in an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to continue search efforts throughout the night. An HC-130 Hercules aircraft and crew were also redirected from a nearby mission.
Other assets, including the Coast Guard Cutter Naushon, an HC-130 crew from the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, and a Good Samaritan vessel, Skana, were assisting in the search.
The suitable Samaritan vessel, Skana, had arrived on the scene first and recovered one person — unresponsive and exhibiting no signs of life —from the water and took them to emergency medical services in Seward.
The search site was experiencing 12-foot seas with winds of 20 to 30 mph and visibility at 10 miles. By Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search for the three people who remain missing. The fourth person who was on the boat, who was found dead, according to Alaska State Troopers, has been identified as 29-year-old Hayden Green from Soldotna.
Troopers have also identified two of the missing boaters as 60-year-old Seward resident Joshua Green and 29-year-old Anchorage resident Caleb Green. Troopers said the third missing boater is an adult female whose identity will be made public after next of kin is notified.
Salerno said he could not immediately provide the reason for suspending the search.
According to a dispatch from state troopers Thursday afternoon, the Alaska Dive, Search, Rescue and Recovery Team, a non-profit organization, is working to locate the three missing people.
