On Oct. 15, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued three boaters from Munson Island, located north of Nunam Iqua on the Yukon River mouth. The Coast Guard described the three as “severely hypothermic” in a press release, and transported the boaters to the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation in Bethel for medical care.
Alaska State Troopers reported the incident to the Coast Guard at 11:45 p.m. on Oct. 14. A nephew of one of the boaters had called the troopers after his uncle had called him to say that their 20-foot aluminum skiff was taking on water. High swells and 51-mile-per-hour wind gusts prevented the nephew and the troopers from attempting a water rescue.
The Coast Guard flew two helicopters from Kodiak to respond. Around 4 a.m. on Oct. 16, the crew located the three missing people on the southern tip of Munson Island, where the missing boaters had built a fire. “One person was waving their hands and the other two were under a blanket," a Coast Guard press release described. "The aircrew dropped radios to them and established communication, as well as lowered additional survival equipment.”
At 6:30 a.m. on Oct. 16, the Coast Guard landed nearby on the island and helped the rescued into the helicopter, carrying one onboard. You can watch a video of the rescuehere.
