Coast Guard Rescues Four From Ice-Trapped Boat After Difficult Overnight Mission in Alaska [WATCH]

Four people, including a child, were rescued by the United States Coast Guard after becoming stranded on a boat trapped in ice for more than a day during a hunting trip in Alaska, as reported by Fox Weather.

According to officials with the Coast Guard Arctic District, watchstanders were alerted Saturday afternoon after the Alaska State Troopers reported that a group of four individuals on a seal hunting expedition needed assistance. Their vessel had become stuck in ice, leaving them unable to return to shore.

Authorities said the group remained stranded for more than 24 hours. During that time, they managed to free their boat from the ice overnight. However, shifting ice conditions prevented them from reaching a shore party that was waiting with snow machines.

A Coast Guard aircrew rescued three adults and a child Sunday after shifting ice trapped their vessel during a subsistence seal hunting trip near Alaska. https://t.co/86lME6X3tt

— FOX 13 Seattle (@fox13seattle) April 17, 2026

In response, Coast Guard crews launched a coordinated rescue effort from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak. A helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft were dispatched to locate the stranded group. Officials said the crews had to stop twice for fuel before reaching the boat at approximately 5 a.m. Sunday.

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Video released by the Coast Guard shows the rescue operation as it unfolded. The helicopter hovered over the ice while a rescuer positioned on the surface assisted in securing the stranded individuals. One by one, the three adults and one child were lifted into a rescue basket and hoisted aboard the aircraft.

All four individuals were safely removed from the scene without injury. They were transported to the village of Chefornak following the rescue.

Lt. Cmdr. Alexis Chavarria-Aguilar, the pilot in command of the helicopter, described the mission as particularly demanding due to environmental conditions and distance.

“Our entire crew agreed this was one of the most challenging missions any of us had ever flown,” Chavarria-Aguilar said.

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“We battled nearly every Alaska-centric aviation weather hazard imaginable, such as flying over 800 miles in near-zero visibility through mountainous terrain, blowing snow and icing conditions. The teamwork was on full display during the recovery of the survivors. It was a long, difficult night, but I’m so proud of everyone involved who worked seamlessly together to bring four people home safely.”

Officials noted that the group had multiple forms of communication on board, including satellite-based systems. That equipment played a role in helping rescuers locate the stranded boat.

At the time of the rescue, conditions were reported to include temperatures around 28 degrees, winds of approximately 29 miles per hour, and visibility of about nine miles. Despite those conditions, the operation was completed without incident.

WATCH: HEROIC RESCUE.

An aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak rescued three adults and one child from an 18-foot vessel trapped on ice near Chefornak, Alaska.The family was on a seal hunting expedition before being trapped on the ice for over 24 hours.Thank you to… pic.twitter.com/w9pZXMC9Xr— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) April 20, 2026

The Coast Guard said the successful rescue highlighted coordination between agencies and the importance of emergency communication equipment in remote areas of Alaska, where changing weather and ice conditions can create hazards for those traveling by water.

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