Alaska Coast Guard Rescues Four Men Who Abandoned Sinking Boat
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A Coast Guard helicopter team rescued four men from their sinking fishing boat off Alaska in dramatic fashion, after they plunged into the choppy ocean waters.
Officials say the crew aboard the 73-foot Kupreanof is safe following the operation Wednesday morning in Cross Sound, about 60 miles west of Juneau.
Coast Guard footage shows some of the fishermen in exposure suits jumping from the sinking craft into wind whipped, 7-foot waves and then scrambling into a bobbing life raft.
Aided by a rescue swimmer, the men are then hoisted one at a time into the hovering helicopter.
A Coast Guard news release says the four were taken in good condition to Air Station Sitka.
The last part of the video shows the fishing boat's bow disappearing beneath the waves, while the rescued men squeeze aboard the rescue chopper.
(Story by: The Associated Press)
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