A 21-year-old fisherman has died after his gear swept him into the water in southwest Alaska, authorities said.
Commercial fishing crewman Corwin Wheeler fell off his boat in Kvichak Bay on Friday while fishing for salmon.
A distress call reported he was in the water at 12:31 p.m., prompting a rescue operation.
The bay has some of the highest tides in the world and the operation was ultimately unsuccessful.
Authorities said Wheeler first became entangled in his fishing gear, before being swept overboard and falling into the water. Tributes have since poured in for the young fisherman, led by his father.
Commercial salmon fisherman Corwin Wheeler, 21, fell from a boat in Kvichak Bay on Friday while fishing for salmon, authorities said.
‘On 07/05/2024 at approximately 12:31 hours, the DPS Patrol Vessel Stimson received a MAYDAY call from a commercial salmon fisherman in Kvichak Bay indicating he had lost a crew member over the side of his vessel,’ the Alaska Department of Public Safety said in a statement.
‘AWT (Alaska Wildlife Troops) responded to the area with two patrol boats and arrived just as the reporting vessel had located and recovered its unconscious crewman from the water.
‘AWT performed life-saving measures for approximately one hour before declaring the crew member dead.
‘Investigation revealed that he had become entangled in fishing gear and was swept overboard and underwater.
‘The next of kin have been notified.’
The boy’s father posted on Facebook a day later.
“I loved him more than anything else in the world,” Jeff Rowe of Illinois wrote Saturday.
“I pray that he knows and hope he has found peace. We will release more information when it is available.”
Wheeler is survived by his sister Zoe. His mother and stepfather are making funeral arrangements.
A subsequent rescue was unsuccessful. Corwin lived in Madison and was born in Salem, according to his social media accounts.
Photographs show him happily working in the Bering Sea as a salmon fisherman for Alaskan Leader Fisheries.
The bay has one of the highest tides in the world, which proved fatal for the young fisherman. It is located about 435 miles southwest of Anchorage.
According to his social media, Corwin lived in Madison and was born in Salem.
Photographs show him happily working in the Bering Sea as a salmon fisherman for Alaskan Leader Fisheries.
The company is one of Alaska’s largest fishing companies and owns four super longliners that operate year-round, according to its website.
It bills itself as one of “Alaska’s most progressive, innovative and vertically integrated hook-and-line fishing companies,” meaning anglers fish using a series of baited hooks.
Corwin worked on one of three fishing vessels, the F/V Alaskan Leader, the F/V Bristol Leader, and the F/V Bering Leader.
DailyMail.com has contacted the company for comment as investigators confirm Corwin accidentally became entangled in its equipment.
A caller later told troopers the sailor fell over the side of the commercial fishing vessel before being sucked under, inhaling a fatal amount of water.
Corwin, seen here catching a grouper, worked on one of three fishing vessels, the F/V Alaskan Leader, the F/V Bristol Leader and the F/V Bering Leader.
The bay Corwin has been working in was also particularly known for its inherent dangers. It is located in the upper part of the bay, which is one of the most dangerous regions in the world for large ships.
The dangers of working in the Bering Sea are well known: trawlers generally describe it as one of the coldest and most dangerous seas in the world.
It is one of the most dangerous places in the world to fish. Decorated commercial fisherman Corey Arnold has called the sea a “continuous storm.”
The bay where Corwin had been working was also particularly known for its inherent dangers.
It can be found on the northeast side of Bristol Bay, near King Salmon.
More specifically, it can be found in the upper areas of the bay, which experience some of the highest tides in the world.
Extreme tides of more than 30 feet have been measured in some areas, the eighth highest in the world.
This, coupled with a huge number of sandbanks, invisible sandbanks and shallow waters, makes navigation problematic, especially in frequently strong winds.
It is also the shallowest part of the Bering Sea, making it one of the most dangerous regions for large ships.