Teenager survives 62 hours on capsized boat off the coast of Alaska

On September 4, 2026, a 15-year-old boy named Derek Parker Angnanganga survived for 62 hours after his small fishing boat capsized near St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea. The teen had been on a fishing trip with his older brother and cousin when the vessel overturned, reportedly due to a fishing line becoming tangled in the boat's motor.

The Alaska State Troopers initiated a search after the group failed to return home. On the morning of September 7, around 10:30 a.m., the U.S. Coast Guard located the teenager sitting atop the hull of the capsized boat, exhausted and suffering from exposure. The Coast Guard coordinated with the crew of the Northwest Explorer, a nearby research and fishing vessel, to facilitate the rescue operation.

While the teenager survived the ordeal by praying and remaining on the hull, family representatives confirmed that the other two individuals on the boat did not survive. Reports indicate the boy had to hold onto the remains of his relatives while drifting at sea. The rescue marks the conclusion of a harrowing incident that highlights the extreme conditions encountered in the Bering Sea region.