Coast Guard searching for man in water off Nome, Alaska

 

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Alaska Contact: 17th District Public Affairs Office: (907) 428-4140 After Hours: (907) 227-9248 17th District online newsroom

Coast Guard searching for man in water off Nome, Alaska

 

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard is searching for a man in the water Friday west of Nome.

The Coast Guard launched an Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew out of Kotzebue to search for the man who reportedly entered the water with no life jacket approximately 7 miles west of Nome. He was last seen sinking below the water's surface by crew aboard his fishing vessel Juda Lee.

The Coast Guard received the initial report at about 10:45 a.m. from Alaska State Troopers that the man fell overboard, and that the Juda Lee crew's attempts to recover him were not successful.

The Coast Guard issued an urgent marine information broadcast to alert potential mariners in the area.

Several Coast Guard helicopter crews have been on scene searching, beginning at about 1:50 p.m.

Weather conditions at the time the Coast Guard arrived on scene were 20 mph winds, 5-foot seas, an air temperature of 32 degrees and a water temperature of 43 degrees.

"Cold water is completely unforgiving," said Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Seth Caron from the District 17 command center. "When a person goes into cold water with no life jacket, our chances of finding them alive are vastly diminished."

-USCG-