The Coast Guard and a group of good Samaritans were searching for five people who went missing after a fishing boat reportedly capsized near Couverden Point, Alaska, the military branch announced Sunday.
The crew aboard the roughly 50-foot fishing boat Wind Walker sent a mayday call that the vessel was overturning around 12:10 a.m. Sunday. But the Coast Guard’s attempts to get more information from the crew received no response.
The Coast Guard launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrew from Air Station Sitka and a 45-foot response boat from Station Juneau to scour the area where the fishing vessel was believed to have capsized, according to a news release.
At the same time, a ferry vessel called AMHS Hubbard overheard the broadcast and volunteered to help, the Coast Guard said in the release.
Responders have so far recovered seven cold-water immersion suits and two strobe lights from the search area, according to the release. The people involved in the effort are facing heavy snow, winds up to 60 mph and 6-foot seas.
The Coast Guard said people familiar with the crew of the Wind Walker reported there were five people aboard. But that number has not been confirmed and could change based on new information.
The fishing boat originated just south of Point Couverden in Icy Strait off the southeastern coast of Alaska.
