A 15-year-old boy named Derek Parker Aghnaanga survived for approximately 62 hours clinging to an overturned fishing boat in the icy waters of the Bering Sea, Alaska. The accident occurred near St. Lawrence Island, and the rescue took place on the morning of September 7, three days after the sinking.
Derek was fishing for halibut with Sidney Kulowiyi, 35, who was the vessel's captain, and Barton Rookok, 34. When the boat overturned and began to drift, Sidney became trapped under the vessel and drowned. Barton stayed with the teenager for about a day but entered the water after feeling unwell and also died.
According to family members, the teenager tried to cling to the relatives' bodies after they drowned. The disappearance was reported to authorities after the three failed to return on schedule, which allowed the search efforts that resulted in Derek's rescue.
