Father-Son Fishermen Perish When Boat Capsizes in Glacier Bay

A tragic story out of Alaska shows the dangers of extremely cold waters and the uncertainty that can come with any fishing trip. One minute they were enjoying a fishing outing with family and friends, and the next minute they were in the water.

A survivor said the 21-foot aluminum boat that capsized with six people on board flipped so quickly that nobody had time to grab the radio and make a distress call.

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The group had been fishing in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska on Memorial Day on a private fishing vessel when it capsized. Known for its glaciers and extremely cold waters, it would take just minutes to affect hypothermia.

One of the crew quickly swam to shore and hailed a boat. But it was too late for two of the anglers, a father and son, who did not survive the frigid conditions. It was unclear how long exactly they had been in the water, according to the Juneau Empire.

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One of the boaters was investigating a slow leak in the boat when everyone moved to one side to catch a glimpse of a freshly caught fish, according to a local charter guide who came to their rescue and spoke with Alaska Dispatch News. 

Three of the boaters had signs of mild hypothermia and another was taken by medevac to a hospital in Juneau.

Photo credit: Wikipedia