U.S. Coast Guard finds two dead, rescues three from overturned vessel in Alaska

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued three people from an overturned boat near Chichagof Island off the coast of Alaska earlier this week. Two more people were found dead in the boat’s cabin.

The Coast Guard rescued the survivors Tuesday, and they were taken by helicopter to receive medical treatment at the airport in Sitka, Alaska.

After a search to find the other two people was unsuccessful that night, the Sitka Fire Department used an unmanned underwater drone on Wednesday and confirmed the two were dead inside the boat’s cabin, the Coast Guard said in a release. Authorities did not provide any names.

“It was with a heavy heart that we received news about the two people inside the cabin from our Sitka Fire Department search partners. We send our support and strength to the family members at this time and thank our partner agencies for their assistance in this case,” Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska commander Capt. Darwin Jensen said in the release. 

The victim’s bodies were recovered, with their families being notified Thursday, Alaska State Troopers spokesperson Austin McDaniel told Alaska Public Media.