This story was updated on May 23, 2024 at 5:18 p.m.
The U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search for three missing people Thursday morning after a boat capsized near Seward. A good Samaritan recovered another individual who was found dead in the water, according to Alaska State Troopers.
Troopers identified the individual as Hayden Green, 29, from Soldotna. Troopers also identified two of the missing boaters as Seward resident Joshua Green, 60, and Anchorage resident Caleb Green, 29. The third missing boater is an adult female whose identity will be made public after troopers have notified next of kin.
“We offer our deepest condolences to the loved ones impacted by this tragedy,” Coast Guard Cmdr. Chris Svencer, the mission coordinator for the search, said in a statement.
Coast Guard watchstanders had received a distress call from the boat, a 21-foot Hewescraft, on Wednesday morning. The boat had four people aboard and they reported it was taking on water in the Aialik Bay area near Seward, according to the Coast Guard’s statement.
The Coast Guard sent an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Kodiak to the site, Lt. Cmdr. Mike Salerno said in a prepared statement. It arrived around 9:50 a.m. Wednesday.
“They located the capsized vessel, and a nearby good Samaritan arrived on scene as well and recovered one unresponsive individual with no signs of life from the water,” he said.
The good Samaritan vessel, Skana, took the person to Seward where they were transferred to emergency medical care. The Coast Guard also sent an HC-130 Hercules airplane and U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Naushon to the site to search for the remaining people.
Salerno said he could not immediately provide the reason for suspending the search for the other boaters.
According to a dispatch from state troopers Thursday afternoon, the Alaska Dive, Search, Rescue, and Recovery Team, a non-profit organization, are working to locate the three missing persons.
In its statement, the Coast Guard said crews had searched about 95 square miles for a combined nine hours. There were 20 mph winds with gusts up to 30 mph, 12-foot seas and 10-mile visibility during the incident.
This is a developing story. It will be updated as more information becomes available.
