Six people aboard a 26-foot recreational boat, the Salmonater, were rescued Tuesday evening after the vessel capsized near Warren Island, 100 miles southeast of Sitka, the Coast Guard said today.
The Coast Guard Sector Command Center at Juneau received an SOS iPhone text at 6 p.m. Tuesday from the Salmonater that said "Boat Flipped."
USCG Air Station Sitka was notified, and launched a helicopter, while the Coast Guard sent out an urgent marine broadcast to vessels in the area of the capsize, on the northwest side of Prince of Wales Island.
A Good Samaritan vessel, Sunlight, heard the distress call, reached Warren Island and saw the boaters on the beach. The Coast Guard wasn't certain how the six made it ashore, although it’s likely they swam since no rafts or boats were seen nearby, the Coast Guard said.
When the Air Station Sitka helicopter arrived around 7:30 p.m., the boaters told the Coast Guard they didn't need medical care. They were flown to Coffman Cove, on the opposite side of Prince of Wales Island, and the case was wrapped up by 7:45 p.m., the Coast Guard said.
The Salmonater was left overturned and partially submerged, the Coast Guard said. The USCG Marine Safety Detachment in Ketchikan was notified, and information wasn't available about the possible cause of the accident.
Coast Guard spokesman John Hightower, petty officer second class, said it was fortunate all survived.
“This is testament to the readiness of our workforce,” he said.
