After 62 Hours at Sea, Derek Aghnaanga, 15, Shares Grim Details

An Alaskan teenager, Derek Parker Aghnaanga, aged 15, endured an astonishing three days alone in the frigid Bering Sea after the fishing vessel he was on with his brother and cousin capsized. Rescued by a passing fishing boat, the boy made a chilling disclosure about the fate of his companions.

The incident occurred on September 4, when Derek, his 35-year-old brother Sidney Kulowiyi, and 34-year-old cousin Barton Rookok, were out fishing for halibut near St. Lawrence Island. Their small skiff overturned, leaving them adrift in the vast Bering Sea. Derek was the sole survivor of the tragic event, witnessing his brother and cousin perish.

Upon his rescue, he recounted his harrowing experience to the crew of the Northwest Explorer, the fishing vessel that pulled him to safety. Adam White, captain of the Northwest Explorer, revealed the boy's account: “Through the teeth chattering, he had mentioned that his brother was still under the skiff and then he said that in the previous night before our rescue that his cousin had slipped away off the top of the skiff.”

The US Coast Guard located the young survivor clutching his overturned skiff around 10:30 a.m. on Monday. This followed a notification from Alaska State Troopers on Sunday night regarding the party's failure to return home. The Coast Guard then directed the Northwest Explorer and its 13-member crew to retrieve the boy.

Captain White described the moment of discovery: “We saw the unusual object on the horizon. We blasted our horn a couple times.” Dramatic rescue footage captured the crew's approach, confirming the presence of a living person atop the capsized craft. White further commented on the remarkable rescue, stating, “It’s unbelievable. It’s remarkable, and it’s cold. The water is 10 degrees Celsius.”

The Northwest Explorer, which also carried scientists, brought Aghnaanga onboard. He was suffering from symptoms of hypothermia but was immediately wrapped in blankets by the crew, who kept him engaged in conversation as they navigated towards Nome, intending to reunite him with his family.

According to a family member who spoke to Alaska’s News Source, Derek clung to the boat as his older brother, Sidney Kulowiyi, and cousin, Barton Rookok, succumbed to the harsh conditions and drowned. His mother confirmed that the teen survived for days without sustenance after his brother, who was the captain, died after becoming trapped beneath the boat. Captain White lauded the boy's resilience, saying, “Saturday, all the way to Tuesday, that kid was on top of that skiff. I mean, that’s one tough kid.”

In the wake of the tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign established to support Aghnaanga’s family and assist with funeral expenses is nearing its $40,000 target.