A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew searches the Gastineau Channel in Juneau, Alaska, for two men in the water after their skiff capsized Dec. 6, 2017. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Jon-Paul Rios.
JUNEAU, Alaska – The Coast Guard is searching for two people after their 10-foot skiff capsized in Gastineau Channel near Juneau, Tuesday.
A Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew, a smallboat crew from the Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick and a Coast Guard Station Juneau smallboat crew are currently on scene searching for two men.
The missing men are 50-year-old James Cole and 48-year-old Sheridan “Scott” Stringer. Due to the possibility that these men may have made it back to shore, the Coast Guard requests that anyone who might have made contact with either of these individuals since 9 p.m. Tuesday contact the Coast Guard at 907-463-2980.
Coast Guard Sector Juneau watchstanders received initial notification at 9 p.m. Tuesday from the Juneau Police Department stating they received a call from a man near Aurora Harbor, Juneau, reporting that he heard people screaming for help.
A station Juneau smallboat crew rescued one person found on the hull of the capsized skiff Tuesday at 9:40 p.m. Juneau Police Department personnel reported to the Coast Guard that two other people safely swam ashore. The three survivors reported that two men were still missing.
“With the assistance of our state and local partners, we will continue to search for the missing men,” said Capt. Phil Thorne, Sector Juneau commander. “We have Coast Guard assets searching diligently and hope we can find the other individuals soon.”
All three survivors were taken to local emergency medical services personnel and treated for minor hypothermic conditions.
Local agencies also assisting in the search are the Juneau Harbor Department, Alaska State Troopers, SEADOGS K-9 Search and Rescue Team, Alaska Wildlife Troopers and the Juneau Police Department.
Weather on scene consists of five-mph winds and one-foot seas with a water temperature of 44 degrees.
