Two Boaters Lost Near St. Lawrence Island

It is with great sadness that we report the loss of two boaters from Savoonga, Alaska, a village of about 800 people on St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea. Three people, including a 15-year-old, left Savoonga on an 18-foot skiff on Friday, September 4, 2026, and were expected home by 3 a.m. on Sunday, September 6, 2026. When the boat did not return, Alaska State Troopers notified the U.S. Coast Guard, but poor weather kept search aircraft grounded until Monday morning, September 7, 2026.

That afternoon, a U.S. Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules crew located the capsized skiff about four miles east of the island and found the 15-year-old clinging to the hull, showing signs of hypothermia. The aircrew dropped a life raft and survival equipment, then guided the nearby good Samaritan F/V NORTHWEST EXPLORER, to the scene with a line of flares. The other two boaters were recovered from the water. They were unresponsive and brought aboard along with the teenager for transport to Nome.

“Our hearts go out to the families, friends, and communities affected by the tragic loss of these two mariners,” said Rear Adm. Bob Little, the commander of the Arctic District. “We are grateful for the incredible efforts of the motor vessel Northwest Explorer, Federal, State, Village first responders and mission partners who assisted in the effort that resulted in a life saved.”

This tragedy shows how quickly cold water can turn a routine trip fatal, and how much Alaska’s geography can work against rescuers even when everyone responds as fast as they can. St. Lawrence Island sits more than 160 miles from Nome and within 40 miles of Russia, far from the nearest search and rescue base. Once someone is in Bering Sea water, hypothermia can set in within minutes, and every hour delayed by weather or added distance narrows the odds of a safe recovery. The outcome here, one survivor pulled from a capsized hull after roughly a full day in the water, speaks to remarkable endurance and a well-coordinated response once conditions allowed it, but it also shows how little margin the Bering Sea gives anyone caught in its waters.

Our thoughts are with the families and the community of Savoonga during this difficult time.