Teen Rescued After Fishing Boat Capsizes in Bering Sea; Two Family Members Lose Lives

Teenager survives days adrift in Alaska's Bering Sea after boat capsized, while brother and cousin perish. Rescue efforts save the boy amid extreme conditions.

Editorial Desk

September 12, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Savoonga, Alaska — A 15-year-old boy was pulled from the frigid waters of the Bering Sea after surviving for several days clinging to a capsized fishing boat, according to reports. His older brother and cousin, who were also on the vessel, did not make it through the ordeal.

The incident occurred when Derek Parker Aghnaanga and his 35-year-old brother, Sidney Kulowiyi, set out on a halibut fishing trip last Friday along with their cousin. The group, from Savoonga on St. Lawrence Island, had planned to return home early Sunday but never arrived, prompting a search by authorities.

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Coast Guard crews and a nearby fishing vessel launched an operation after family members reported the three missing. A captain from the “Northwest Explorer” described the teen as remarkably resilient, noting he remained calm and survived without food or water. Despite hypothermia symptoms, the boy was eventually rescued and treated by the crew, who later recovered the bodies of his brother and cousin near the remote Alaskan island.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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