Alaskan Fishing Captain Hailed a Hero for Jumping Into Water to Save Crew Member

Grayling’s skiff driver reaches over to grab the captain and another crewman after the captain jumped into the water to save man after their vessel capsized. Image from U.S. Coast Guard video

The Captain of an Alaskan fishing vessel is being hailed a hero after jumping into the water to save one of his crew after their vessel capsized near Kodiak Island on Monday.

Part of the rescue was captured on video from a U.S. Guard helicopter.

According to the Coast Guard and good samaritans who assisted with the rescue, there were four people on board the fishing vessel Grayling when it began taking on water and capsized in the Kupreanof Strait near Raspberry Island on Monday afternoon.

The Coast Guard reported that the crew of a good samaritan vessel, the Calista Marie, which was apparently on scene at the time, rescued one of the crew as Grayling’s skiff driver rescued the captain, leaving one man unaccounted for.

According to the Coast Guard, after receiving a call at about 3:25 p.m. on Monday, a MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew diverted from a training flight when they observed the captain of the capsized Grayling jump into the frigid 47-degree water to assist the fourth crewman. A video filmed from the helicopter shows

A video filmed from the helicopter shows Grayling’s captain struggling to keep the man above water before helping him onto the Grayling’s skiff, where the captain initiated CPR and was able to revive the crewman:

The captain of the Calista Marie, the good samaritan vessel, shed some more light on the incident in an interview with Alaska Dispatch News. He said his vessel was nearby at the time when they saw the

He said his vessel was nearby at the time when they saw the Grayling taking on water, and rendered assistance. Calista Marie’s captain said he took the Grayling under tow, but about a quarter mile from shore the Grayling capsized, sending the four men into the water.

After capsizing, the Grayling’s captain, identified as Christian Trosvig, along with one other, were able aboard the Grayling’s skiff as the Calista Marie rescued the third person. But the fourth crew member was missing. The Calista Marie captain said they scanned the water for about 20 minutes before suddenly, the missing man appeared. That is when the captain dove into the water and swam about 50 yards to rescue the man.

“Chris was the hero. He saved that guy’s life,” Pruitt said. “Chris swam over there, grabbed him, pulled him into the skiff and gave him CPR for probably five minutes. That revived him.”

The Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk crew transported the crew member to awaiting EMS at Kodiak Municipal Airport.

“That fisherman didn’t hesitate. It was incredible to see him jump into the 47-degree water to save his crew,” said Lt. Kevin Riley, an Air Station Kodiak Jayhawk pilot. “It is a testament to how tough those fishermen are and how far they will go to help their fellow Alaskans.”

The cause of the capsizing has not been determined.

According to the Coast Guard, weather on scene was 17-mph winds and 5-foot seas. 

Wow. 

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