By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
A Coast Guard helicopter rescued a Sitka fisherman Saturday night after his boat ran aground at Kulichkof Rock about six miles southwest of town, the Coast Guard said.
“The guy did everything he was supposed to do, so good for him,” said Coast Guard spokeswoman Melissa McKenzie about the rescue of Cale LaDuke, who was alone on the boat when it hit the rocks.
But the rescue wasn’t the end of story. Sunday night LaDuke was making salvage arrangements when he learned that the grounded boat was on fire.
LaDuke’s rescue was set into motion around 10 p.m. Saturday when Coast Guard Sector Juneau received his Channel 16 mayday call, reporting his 47-foot boat, the F/V Saami, had run aground and was slamming against the rocks at Kulichkof Rock.
LaDuke, 38, said later that he had been coming into town to make a delivery of king salmon and coho when he noticed that his navigation computer had malfunctioned. He was rebooting it when the boat hit the rocks.
“I realized (the computer) had frozen but it was too late,” he said.
LaDuke got off the boat and onto some rocks, grabbing his survival suit and a drybag that contained a VHF radio, headlamp, an inReach signaling and location device, and an EPIRB. He set off a call for help on his inReach, and broadcast a mayday on his VHF, although he wasn’t sure it went through. He also called 911, and that call was forwarded to the Coast Guard.
InReach contacted him, confirmed he needed help and told him help was on the way.
The Coast Guard issued an urgent marine broadcast to vessels in the area, and U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka launched a helicopter. LaDuke shot a parachute flare when he saw the helicopter, and lit a handheld flare once the aircraft got closer. He had also triggered his EPIRB.
A rescue swimmer was lowered and at 10:52 p.m. LaDuke was hoisted into the helicopter and taken to the Sitka Air Station, McKenzie said. He was uninjured.
LaDuke said he was working on salvage information with the Coast Guard in their office Sunday night when they received the call reporting the boat was on fire. He said today the boat is probably a total loss.
As for the emergency Saturday night, McKenzie said LaDuke’s actions and preparedness, including his drybag full of equipment and communications and location devices, made for a speedy rescue.
“Those were key to his rescue,” the spokeswoman said.
Speaking to the Sentinel today, LaDuke said, “I want to say thank you to all my friends and the community for their help and concern. It means a lot to me and it was amazing to see how much everyone cares and looks out for each other. It was a comforting feeling and helped me through the whole ordeal.
“Also, thank you to the Coast Guard – they did an awesome job. And were very quick to respond.”
