Kenai

Commercial fisherman dies after falling overboard in Cook Inlet

A commercial salmon fisherman from Kenai died Thursday morning after he fell overboard in Cook Inlet, troopers said.

Anthony Walsh, 62, became unresponsive while his fishing partner, Kevin Loran, 59, of Anchorage, was trying to get him back onboard, according to an Alaska State Troopers report Thursday afternoon.

"A nearby vessel came over and the two crews were able to get Walsh out of the water and CPR was performed but they were unable to revive him," troopers said.

The incident occurred on the fishing vessel Hooligan in lower Cook Inlet, said Petty Officer Jon-Paul Rios, a spokesman with the U.S. Coast Guard in Juneau.

The victim was in the water for between 10 and 30 minutes, Rios said Friday morning. Mariners spent about 30 minutes conducting CPR.

Troopers were first notified of a drowning victim at about 9 a.m. Thursday.

Megan Peters, spokeswoman with the Alaska State Troopers, said Loran didn't see Walsh go into the water.

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They were fishing when the incident occurred, and Walsh may have been picking fish from a net, she said.

"Loran heard the other guy holler out for help. He turned and saw the other guy overboard," Peters said.

The Coast Guard and Homer police joined troopers in an investigation of the death after Loran returned to Homer in the fishing vessel, troopers said.

Walsh's remains were being sent to the State Medical Examiner's office.

Alex DeMarban

Alex DeMarban is a longtime Alaska journalist who covers business, the oil and gas industries and general assignments. Reach him at 907-257-4317 or alex@adn.com.

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