2 dead in in Bering Sea as teen survivor found clinging to side of capsized boat

A 15-year-old boy survived for days in the frigid Bering Sea, clinging to an overturned boat and desperately trying to hold onto his older brother and another crew member before both men drowned.The teenager, identified by family as Derek Parker, was found alive Monday afternoon on the capsized 18-foot skiff about 4 miles east of Alaska’s St.Lawrence Island, according to the US Coast Guard.His older brother, who was captaining the boat, and a second crew member were recovered dead from the water.The boy’s mother told Alaska News Source that her youngest son had survived for days without food or water after the boat overturned.

His older brother became trapped beneath the vessel, she said, while the third crew member survived alongside Derek for another day before dying.Family members said the teenager tried to hold onto both men, even after they drowned.“He held onto the other two as long as he can even after they drowned.He is alive,” his aunt wrote in a heartbreaking Facebook post.The three had departed the Siberian Yupik village of Savoonga on Friday and were expected to return by 3 a.m.

Sunday, according to the Anchorage Daily News.Alaska State Troopers alerted the Coast Guard that the group was overdue around 8:30 p.m.Sunday.Poor weather and limited visibility prevented a Coast Guard aircraft from reaching the search area until Monday morning, while troopers and local authorities searched from shore.At about 3 p.m., an HC-130 Hercules aircrew spotted the overturned boat and the teenager clinging to it.The crew dropped a life raft and survival equipment, then coordinated with the nearby fishing vessel Northwest Explorer to reach him.“Before departing the scene to refuel, the HC-130 aircrew deployed a line of flares to guide the Northwest Explorer to the overturned vessel,” the Coast Guard said.The fishing vessel rescued Derek, who was suffering symptoms of hypothermia, and recovered the two unresponsive men from the water.

All three were taken to ...