ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard and others are searching Tuesday for an unconfirmed person in the water near Anchorage after an overturned skiff was found aground on the west shoreline of Knik Arm.
Coast Guard watchstanders in the Sector Anchorage command center received a call from a concerned citizen at approximately 1 p.m. Tuesday reporting the overturned vessel with keys still in the ignition, approximately 1 mile east of Goose Bay Airport. The Coast Guard later learned that the skiff had been observed as early as Sunday by other people in the area.
The Coast Guard immediately issued an urgent marine information broadcast. The Anchorage Fire Department responded to the broadcast and began to search in the vicinity of the overturned skiff, along with an Alaska Rescue Coordination Center helicopter crew.
Coast Guard watchstanders contacted the last known owner of the skiff who stated he'd given it away to a friend of a friend.
A Coast Guard C-130 Hercules Aircraft crew from Air Station Kodiak is searching this evening, along with crews from Anchorage Fire Department, Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Rescue Coordination Center.
"We've had no reports of anyone missing or overdue, but we're searching with our partner agencies for a person in the water this evening," said Senior Chief Petty Officer Erik Patterson, Sector Anchorage command duty officer for the case. It is possible that someone took this boat out without telling anyone where they were going or when they planned to return, and they might be in distress."
Anyone with any information about the skiff is encouraged to call the Coast Guard Sector Anchorage command center at 907-428-4100.
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