How a 15-year-old survived 62 hours in the freezing sea - alongside the bodies of his brother and cousin
Derek Parker Agnahanga, 15, survived 62 hours on an overturned fishing boat in the Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska, alongside the bodies of his brother and cousin who drowned. He suffered from hypothermia and exhaustion, without food or water, until he was rescued by the crew of the fishing vessel Northwest Explorer.
Derek Parker Agnahanga, 15, survived 62 hours on an overturned fishing boat in the freezing Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska, alongside the bodies of his brother and cousin who drowned. The three had gone halibut fishing from the village of Savoonga on St. Lawrence Island. The boat capsized, and Derek's brother, Sydney Colway, 35, became trapped under the vessel and drowned. The cousin, Burton Rockock, 34, initially managed to stay with Derek on the overturned boat, but on the night before the rescue, he slipped off and drowned. Derek was left alone, without food or water, with the water temperature around 10 degrees Celsius. The crew of the fishing vessel Northwest Explorer spotted him after a Coast Guard air crew identified the boat. The ship's captain, Adam White, described the rescue and said Derek is a "tough kid." The bodies of the two family members were located and brought to shore. Relatives launched a fundraising campaign for funeral expenses.