Alaska boy miraculously survives 62 hours at Bering sea after boat capsizes. He was holding onto his dead brother and cousin: ‘Praying the whole time’
A terrifying ordeal.
The sheer resilience of a 15-year-old boy in Alaska who survived 62 hours adrift in the Bering Sea is leaving many in awe. The story of Derek Parker Aghnaanga is one that highlights both the terrifying unpredictability of the ocean and the incredible strength of the human spirit. According to The New York Post, after his small skiff capsized near St. Lawrence Island, the teenager was forced to endure four days and three nights in freezing conditions without any food or water.
The incident began when the group departed from Savoonga on Friday, September 4, 2026, to fish for halibut, per Alaska’s News Source. Their trip took a tragic turn when the boat overturned, possibly due to a fishing line becoming tangled in the motor. This quick shift from a routine fishing trip to a survival situation left the three men in the water.
The boat’s captain, 35-year-old Sidney Kulowiyi, unfortunately became trapped under the capsized skiff and drowned. The third member of the party, 34-year-old Barton Rookok, managed to stay with the teenager for about a day before he eventually succumbed to the elements and slipped into the water.
He lived on prayer the entire time he was stranded
The teenager was left alone on top of the overturned hull as the vessel drifted through the harsh Bering Sea. His mother, Vina Kulowiyi, shared that her son survived by relying on his faith. She mentioned in a Facebook post that he lived on prayer during the entire time he was stranded. It is a testament to Derek’s mental fortitude that he remained conscious and alert while clinging to the boat for such a long period.
His aunt, Colleen Walker, noted on a GoFundMe page she started for him that Derek desperately tried to hold onto his brother and cousin as long as he could after they drowned. The emotional weight of this experience is hard to fathom, yet he managed to stay on the boat until help arrived.
The rescue operation was set in motion after Alaska State Troopers were notified on the night of night September 6 that the party had failed to return. The U.S. Coast Guard initiated a search, and they eventually spotted the teenager on the morning of September 7.
At approximately 10:30 a.m., they directed the Northwest Explorer, a nearby fishing vessel carrying crew members and NOAA scientists, to assist in the rescue. Captain Adam White described the moment they saw the boy on the horizon. He noted that the crew blasted their horn to signal their presence.
When pulled from the water, Derek was suffering from severe hypothermia
Captain White recalled the boy’s state during the rescue. “Through the teeth chattering, he had mentioned that his brother was still under the skiff and then he said that in the previous night before our rescue that his cousin had slipped away off the top of the skiff,” White said.
The crew worked quickly to wrap him in blankets and kept him talking as they navigated toward Nome to reunite him with his family. The captain was clearly moved by the encounter, admitting that he had to step away to process his emotions. “I mean, that’s one tough kid,” White added.
The aftermath of this tragedy has left the community of Savoonga in mourning. The bodies of both Sidney Kulowiyi and Barton Rookok were eventually recovered by the crew of the Northwest Explorer. While the family navigates this profound loss, they are also finding small moments of light.
Vina Kulowiyi shared that a new grandchild, named Dale Sidney Scott Salleka Kulowiyi Jr., was born on September 7. This new life carries the name of her oldest son, who will never get the chance to meet his nephew.
The support for the family has been significant
The GoFundMe page was established to assist with funeral costs and to provide for the surviving teenager’s daily needs. The community has rallied around them, and the fund has nearly reached its goal of $45,000. It is clear that the generosity of others is providing some comfort to a family dealing with an unimaginable loss.
Derek is now focused on recovering and catching up on sleep after his harrowing ordeal. It is a miracle that he was found when he was, given the extreme cold of the water, which measured around 10 degrees Celsius. The bravery he showed in the face of such overwhelming circumstances is nothing short of extraordinary. He spent his time on the skiff from Saturday until Tuesday, holding on through sheer will and prayer.
This story serves as a reminder of how quickly life can change and how much strength individuals can find when faced with the most difficult of challenges. The survival of this young man is a bright spot in a very dark situation for his family and the entire village.
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