Coast Guard calls off search for 3 missing boaters near Seward

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - The U.S. Coast Guard has called off the active search for three missing boaters in the waters south of Seward after a small boat was found capsized Wednesday morning, as well as the body of a fourth member of the boating party.

The Coast Guard reported that the 21-foot Hewescraft boat put out a distress call Wednesday morning near Aialik Bay, about 35 miles southwest of Seward, with four people on board.

Alaska State Troopers reported that the Coast Guard received the mayday call at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday from the boat, which was taking on water.

USCG authorities said that a “good Samaratin” vessel, later confirmed to be a boat owned by Major Marine Tours in Seward, responded to the area and pulled up a body from the water. The Major Marine Tours boat returned to Seward with the body, where it was then taken to Emergency Services and ultimately to the state medical examiner for an autopsy.

The body was later identified by troopers as that of 29-year-old Hayden Green of Soldotna. Of the three missing people, two were identified as 60-year-old Joshua Green of Seward and 29-year-old Caleb Green of Anchorage.

Authorities said the identity of the fourth person, a woman, will be released once next of kin have been notified.

A MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Kodiak also responded to the area just before 10 a.m. Wednesday, where it was communicating with the tour boat.

Tom Tougas, owner of Major Marine Tours, told Alaska’s News Source in an interview Thursday that his crew on the Skana found a lifejacket and a five-gallon bucket in the water before discovering the body of Hayden Green.

“It was clear that it had been floating upside down for quite some time,” Tougas said. “And he had a — not a lifejacket, but a life float ... around his neck, you know, like people wear for jet skiing.

“So he’s floating, and we picked him up using our man overboard gear, and got him on the boat, and they attempted CPR but it was it was obvious that he was not — that he was long gone.”

Tougas said the crew found the boat upside down in the water with its bow sticking above the surface. It was still unclear Thursday where the group had come from or where it was headed.

Coast Guard officials said crews searched an area of 95 square miles for a combined nine hours before making the decision to suspend the active search. The Coast Guard said there were 30 mph gusts and 12-foot seas in the area during the search.

“We offer our deepest condolences to the loved ones impacted by this tragedy,” Cmdr. Chris Svencer said in a statement. Svencer is the search mission coordinator.

“This decision is never easy and is only made after careful deliberation.”