Man dies when Gig Harbor-based boat sinks near Alaska
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SEATTLE -- One person is dead, another is missing and two more were rescued after a locally-based fishing boat sank off the coast of Alaska.
KMXT-FM reports that the Coast Guard began searching early Friday morning for the crewmen after the 58-foot fishing vessel sank 50 miles south of Kodiak.
The boat's owner, Gig Harbor's Lisa Newland, said the crew members of the Advantage were like family and she is praying for good news.
Three crewmen in a life raft were rescued, and all were suffering from hypothermia. The Coast Guard says none of those rescued was wearing a survival suit.
One of the three people pulled from the water, the boat's skipper, later died of hypothermia, according to Newland.
The Coast Guard says a helicopter was launched at about 1 a.m. and was tracking a distress signal sent by the vessel.
Once the three were located and brought to safety, the helicopter went back to look for the missing crewman.
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Newland sid the crew had been fishing for Pacific cod and that the waters were calm, so no one is sure what might have happened.
Newland released as statement Friday night saying, "The crew -- they're not like employees -- they're like family. We're deeply saddened. We're praying for the families and really thankful for the US Coast Guard right now. They were really great and they did everything they could."
KMXT-FM reports that the Coast Guard began searching early Friday morning for the crewmen after the 58-foot fishing vessel sank 50 miles south of Kodiak.
The boat's owner, Gig Harbor's Lisa Newland, said the crew members of the Advantage were like family and she is praying for good news.
Three crewmen in a life raft were rescued, and all were suffering from hypothermia. The Coast Guard says none of those rescued was wearing a survival suit.
One of the three people pulled from the water, the boat's skipper, later died of hypothermia, according to Newland.
The Coast Guard says a helicopter was launched at about 1 a.m. and was tracking a distress signal sent by the vessel.
Once the three were located and brought to safety, the helicopter went back to look for the missing crewman.
.
Newland sid the crew had been fishing for Pacific cod and that the waters were calm, so no one is sure what might have happened.
Newland released as statement Friday night saying, "The crew -- they're not like employees -- they're like family. We're deeply saddened. We're praying for the families and really thankful for the US Coast Guard right now. They were really great and they did everything they could."
There are a lot of shallow reefs roughy in that area, but all kinds of things could have gone wrong especially at night. RIP, and condonlences to the family.Â