Monday, June 23, 2014

2 saved, 1 dead, 1 missing in Ugashik capsizing

The Alaska State Troopers posted this at 11 this morning:

Location: Pilot Point
Type: Search and rescue
On 6/22/14 at 0855 hours, Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Wildlife Troopers Helo-3 and a helicopter from U.S. Coast Guard Kodiak responded to the Ugashik River near Pilot Point for a report of an overturned skiff with four occupants in the water. Preliminary investigation revealed four commercial fishermen were operating a skiff while fishing on the Ugashik River when the skiff capsized, throwing all four into the water. Winds in the area were estimated at 25 mph with stronger gusts; waves were estimated at 4 feet at the time the skiff overturned. Earnest Pierce, 47, of Nine Mile Falls, Wash., and Brandon Michael Park, 24, of West Richland, Wash., were able to climb on top of the overturned skiff until rescued by other fishing boats. An adult male and a 17-year-old juvenile attempted to swim to shore. The older male was later located in the water and was unresponsive. Efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. Efforts by rescuers on scene to locate the missing juvenile were unsuccessful. None of the occupants of the skiff were wearing personal flotation devices at the time of the incident. AST is in the process of locating next of kin. Coast Guard search efforts have been suspended pending further information. Efforts by AST and AWT are continuing.

3 comments:

  1. The Alaska State Troopers have identified the dead man as Charles Anthony Voss, 38, of Sterling. The missing youth is Casey Burt, 17, of Nine Mile Falls, Wash.

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  2. Here's another update from the Alaska State Troopers:

    On 6/24/14 at approximately 1820 hours, during a low tide, troopers located and recovered the body of 17-year-old Casey Burt with the help of the Pilot Point village public safety officer. The body was located approximately half a mile upriver from where the skiff overturned. The body is being transported to the state medical examiner's office in Anchorage.

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  3. Condolences to the families.

    The gash is a miserable blow hole that gets very rough.

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