Coast Guard Finds 2 Dead, Rescues 3 From Overturned Vessel Near Sitka, Alaska

In southeast Alaska near Sitka, a tragic incident unfolded this week as a boat overturned, resulting in two fatalities and the rescue of three others from the water, according to authorities.

The U.S. Coast Guard was alerted by local police on Tuesday about the overturned boat. A Coast Guard helicopter successfully rescued three people from the water around 5:50 p.m., approximately an hour after the initial notification.

Efforts to locate two missing individuals continued, and on Wednesday, state and local authorities, aided by an underwater drone, discovered their bodies inside the boat cabin. The challenging conditions, marked by winds and 10 to 12-foot seas, complicated recovery operations for the authorities, as mentioned by Petty Officer Shannon Kearney on Thursday.

The spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Public Safety, Austin McDaniel, identified the vessel as a “landing craft style boat.” A death investigation will be conducted by Alaska Wildlife Troopers to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident. At this time, there is no additional information available regarding the condition of the three survivors during their rescue.

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