15-Year-Old Survives Two Days Atop a Capsized Boat in Alaska

A dramatic rescue unfolded in the cold waters off the coast of Alaska last week. Read on for the details of this miracle.

Teen Boy Survives Overturned Boat in Frigid Waters of the Bering Sea

A 15-year-old survived for over two days by sitting atop a capsized fishing boat in the frigid waters of the Bering Sea. Unfortunately, while he was eventually rescued, his older brother and cousin lost their lives.

The boys set sail from the Alaska Native village of Savoonga on St. Lawrence Island on Friday, September 4. The trio was aboard an 18-foot skiff headed out for a halibut fishing trip.  According to the Anchorage Daily News, the boaters were expected to return early Sunday morning.

The expedition ran into trouble when a fishing line became tangled up in the boat's motor. The motor went dead as the boat floated through the icy waters.

Family spokesperson Darren Toolie-Noongwook told Alaska’s News Source that the skiff overturned when the weather began to deteriorate. Toolie-Noongwook detailed that the 15-year-old survived waves crashing over the overturned boat throughout the night. The teen knelt and prayed as the water temperatures fell into the mid 40s.