Authorities have recovered two bodies from debris belonging to a fishing boat that capsized with five people on board in rough seas off southeast Alaska earlier this month. The bodies were found in a bay east of Hoonah after a beachcomber reported discovering remains and gear associated with the vessel.
Based on evidence found at the site, including buoys and fishing gear linked to the Wind Walker, officials believe the two individuals were on the boat when it capsized. The bodies are being transported to the state medical examiner’s office for autopsies and identification.
Relatives of the missing individuals have been notified about the discovery of the bodies. Search crews, aided by dog teams, scoured approximately 5 miles of shoreline but did not locate any additional human remains.
The location where the bodies were found is about 12-13 miles southwest of the Wind Walker's last known position, with Hoonah situated approximately 40 miles west of Juneau.
The U.S. Coast Guard received a distress call from the Wind Walker crew at 12:10 a.m. on December 1, reporting that the 50-foot boat was overturning off Point Couverden, southwest of Juneau. Despite efforts to gather more information, the crew did not respond, leading to the suspension of the search on December 2.
