A Petersburg man died when his skiff flipped while he and a hunting partner were trying to help another vessel in distress, the Alaska State Troopers said Friday.
His hunter partner was rescued after clinging to the overturned skiff in cold water for up to two hours, troopers said.
At 1 a.m. on Friday the U.S. Coast Guard in Juneau reported to troopers that two hunters were missing in the Duncan Canal area, 12 miles west of Petersburg in Southeast Alaska.
Hunters Doug Larson, 50, and Charles King, 40, “had flipped over in a 13-foot skiff while they were attempting to go help another boat that was stuck in the area," troopers said.
King held on to the overturned skiff for “1-2 hours” before rescuers got there, the dispatch said.
“When rescuers arrived, Charles King was still conscious,” troopers said. “Doug Larson succumbed to the cold water and his body was recovered by rescuers.”
Larson’s family has been notified, troopers said.