April 29, 2002
Monday - 5:30 pm

KETCHIKAN, Alaska - Coast Guard Station Ketchikan rescuers examine the skiff that overturned April 27 in the Tongass Narrows about 300 yards north of the Coast Guard station.  (Official U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy of Station Ketchikan)

A Ketchikan sea urchin diver on the fishing vessel Bullfrog helped nine people avert calamity after their overloaded skiff capsized Saturday in the Tongass Narrows.   Commercial fisherman Pat Cassin called the Coast Guard for help, rescued three people from the water and then conducted an underwater search for a man after a 12-foot aluminum skiff overturned about 300 yards north of the Coast Guard Station in Ketchikan.   Cassin called the Coast Guard at 8:38 p.m. reporting the accident and then moved in to rescue three people who were treading water about 30 yards from shore.

One woman was suffering from hypothermia and couldn't swim and was clinging to a gas can for floatation.  Four other people that were on the skiff had already swam to a nearby dock and were safe. A Coast Guard Station Ketchikan boat arrived on scene at 8:45 p.m.
 
Cassin transferred the three people to the Coast Guard boat and then dove into the 43-degree water to search for a ninth missing person. While the Coast Guard crew provided first aid, they questioned the victims who said the missing person may have made it to shore and fled the scene of the accident. 

The Coast Guard called the Ketchikan Police Department and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to provide medical treatment and to confirm the location of the missing person. EMS personnel treated two people for hypothermia and minor injuries.

Ketchikan Police Department located the missing man walking in downtown Ketchikan. The skiff was recovered and brought to the Coast Guard Station. None of the nine people were wearing life jackets when the accident occurred. The Ketchikan Police Department is investigating the incident.

Source of News Release & Photo:

United States Coast Guard
Web Site

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