On Friday morning, the U.S. Coast Guard reported that it had rescued three crewmembers from a sinking fishing vessel near Kodiak Island, and was searching for a fourth man who was aboard the ship. Kodiak public radio station KMXT reported Friday night that the skipper of the vessel, who was among the rescued crewmembers, had died.
The Coast Guard also suspended the search for the missing crewman, identified by KMXT as Jaime Gallaga, on Friday shortly before 9 p.m. The search "will remain suspended pending any further significant developments such as a sighting by a commercial vessel," said Coast Guard spokeswoman Sara Francis.
According to the Coast Guard, an emergency beacon alerted rescuers shortly after 12 a.m. Friday to the sinking vessel, the 58-foot F/V Advantage, which was going down about 14 miles southeast of Kodiak. Responding in an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, the Coast Guard located three crewmembers in a liferaft and was able to airlift them to safety.
All three crewmembers were exhibiting symptoms of hypothermia at the time of their rescue, the Coast Guard reported. KMXT reported on Friday that the captain of the vessel, identified as Leif Bolan, died following the rescue, while the other two crewmembers were reportedly recovering.
The Coast Guard is looking into the cause of the sinking.
Listen to the full report, at KMXT.