15-Year-Old Alaska Boy Survives 62 Hours at Sea After Losing His Brother and Cousin

A 15-year-old Alaska boy has been reunited with his family after surviving roughly 62 hours alone on an overturned fishing boat in the freezing waters of the Bering Sea.

Derek Parker Aghnaanga was rescued near St. Lawrence Island after a fishing trip with his older brother and cousin turned into a devastating ordeal. His survival has been described as extraordinary, but it came with the heartbreaking loss of both family members who had been with him.

A Fishing Trip Turns Into a Nightmare

Derek had set out from the village of Savoonga on Sept. 4 with his 35-year-old brother, Sidney Kulowiyi, and their cousin to fish for halibut.

The 18-foot skiff was expected to return early Sunday morning. When the three did not come home, authorities were alerted and a search began.

Dense fog initially made the search extremely difficult.

By the time rescuers located the overturned boat, Derek had already spent days exposed to the harsh conditions of the Bering Sea.

Derek Lost His Brother and Cousin

After the boat capsized, Derek’s older brother became trapped beneath the vessel.

His cousin initially managed to stay with Derek on the overturned boat, but later slipped into the water and could not survive the ordeal.

Derek was left alone, clinging to the exposed hull and trying to endure the cold, darkness and exhaustion.

His family later said that he remained remarkably calm and relied heavily on prayer as he waited for help.

The Moment Rescuers Finally Found Him

On Sept. 7, a U.S. Coast Guard aircraft spotted Derek sitting on the overturned skiff roughly four miles from St. Lawrence Island.

The Coast Guard deployed a raft and survival supplies and then directed the nearby fishing vessel Northwest Explorer toward the teenager.

Captain Adam White and his crew raced to the location, following signals from the Coast Guard aircraft.

When they finally reached the skiff, they saw Derek wearing a bright yellow jacket and kneeling on top of the overturned boat.

He was suffering from hypothermia and was too weak to swim to the rescue raft.

The crew threw him a line and pulled him aboard.

“He’s Alive”

For Derek’s family, the rescue brought an overwhelming mixture of relief and heartbreak.

Family members had gathered around a speakerphone listening to radio communications during the search. When the captain announced that they had found a living teenager, the family celebrated through tears.

Derek was eventually taken to Nome, where he was reunited with his loved ones.

His mother described him as a survivor and said he had endured the ordeal without food or water, relying on prayer to keep going.

A Survivor Carrying a Heavy Loss

Derek’s survival is an extraordinary story of endurance, but his return home also carries enormous sadness.

His brother Sidney was remembered by relatives as a caring and hardworking provider who was deeply connected to the Savoonga community. His cousin was also lost during the ordeal.

For Derek, coming home means beginning the long process of recovering from both the physical effects of the ordeal and the emotional pain of losing two family members.

A Story of Courage and Hope

More than two days alone in the frigid Bering Sea would test even the strongest person.

For a 15-year-old boy, the ordeal was almost unimaginable.

Yet Derek held on.

He remained on the overturned boat, endured the cold and waited for rescuers to find him. When that moment finally came, a desperate search became a life-saving rescue.

Derek is now home with his family — carrying memories of an experience no teenager should ever have to endure, but also carrying the remarkable story of how he survived.