US Coast Guard Rescues Four Trapped on Alaska Ice Floe in Challenging Mission
The U.S. Coast Guard successfully rescued four individuals, including a child, who became trapped on an ice floe during a subsistence seal hunting expedition in southwestern Alaska. The incident occurred approximately 10 miles west of the remote village of Chefornak in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region. Alaska State Troopers alerted the Coast Guard after the group had been stranded for over 24 hours. Although the hunters managed to free their 18-foot vessel, shifting ice prevented them from reaching shore. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak executed the rescue under severe weather conditions, including 29 mph winds, near-zero visibility, and icing hazards. The pilot described it as one of the most challenging missions ever flown by the unit. All four survivors were hoisted aboard and transported back to Chefornak without injuries. The Coast Guard highlighted that the presence of three communication devices, including satellite technology, significantly aided the aircrew in locating and rescuing the party efficiently despite the dangerous environmental obstacles.
Wire timeline
US Coast Guard Rescues Four Trapped on Alaska Ice Floe in Challenging Mission
The U.S. Coast Guard successfully rescued four individuals, including a child, who became trapped on an ice floe during a subsistence seal hunting expedition in southwestern Alaska. The incident occurred approximately 10 miles west of the remote village of Chefornak in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region. Alaska State Troopers alerted the Coast Guard after the group had been stranded for over 24 hours. Although the hunters managed to free their 18-foot vessel, shifting ice prevented them from reaching shore. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak executed the rescue under severe weather conditions, including 29 mph winds, near-zero visibility, and icing hazards. The pilot described it as one of the most challenging missions ever flown by the unit. All four survivors were hoisted aboard and transported back to Chefornak without injuries. The Coast Guard highlighted that the presence of three communication devices, including satellite technology, significantly aided the aircrew in locating and rescuing the party efficiently despite the dangerous environmental obstacles.
abcnews