2 men missing off Western Alaska coast after boat sinks
Small fishing boat was carrying 3 men when it sank Monday night
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - A search is ongoing for two men missing after the boat they were on sank off the coast of a Western Alaska island late Monday night.
An Alaska State Trooper report posted Tuesday states that they received a call around 9 p.m. Monday that the 10-foot Ocean Pro boat with three men onboard sank in rough water conditions near Mekoryuk, a town located on the north side of Nunivak Island in the Bering Sea.
Troopers initially said one of the men was recovered safely, and another was found after he swam to shore. The man who swam to shore was allegedly taken to a clinic for further evaluation, according to an AST spokesperson.
In an update Tuesday afternoon, troopers corrected their initial report to say both older men were still missing.
An AST spokesperson told Alaska’s News Source that one of the men has been identified as 72-year-old Samuel Shavings.
The other two men were ages 19 and 65. Family members of the 65-year-old, Albert Williams, said he was not recovered safely from the water and is still missing.
Williams’ daughter, Dallas, spoke with Alaska’s News Source on Tuesday. She was at home with her 19-year-old brother who was the only person rescued from the boat that capsized.
“My brother says that [the sea] was getting really rough and they were taking water in from the motor side,” Williams said. “And it just filled up with too much water.”
Williams said her father and brother were out subsistence fishing with Shavings, their neighbor.
“They were looking — my dad hadn’t gotten a seal yet this spring — so they went to go look for seals,” she explained. “It’s a seasonal thing every spring.”
Two local boats, along with the U.S. Coast Guard, searched for the men overnight, according to troopers.
Troopers also say that the Rescue Coordination Center plans to launch a C-130 plane Tuesday morning, and the U.S. Coast Guard has routed a vessel to the area.
While the search continues for both Williams and Shavings, Dallas Williams said the outpouring of support has meant the world.
“We have a whole bunch of family coming over to be with my mom so that we’re not alone,” Williams said.
“A lot of people have been bringing food, so we haven’t been alone at all since.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information after the Department of Public Safety updated its initial report with corrected info.
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