[chris]

On Oct. 19, 2022, a Coast Guard Air Station Sitka MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew rescued a man and his two dogs from shore in Freshwater Bay, southeast of Hoonah, Alaska, after his 33-foot fiberglass fishing vessel Bailey Bay capsized and sank.

At 4:48 a.m., Coast Guard Sector Juneau Command Center watchstanders overheard a mayday from the mariner saying the vessel was going down near Freshwater Bay. He confirmed he and the two dogs were the only ones aboard before the transmission ceased. Coast Guard personnel from Station Juneau, Air Station Sitka, and Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Denman launched to respond.

Several nearby vessels that heard the call gave antenna heights and latitude and longitude positions, helping crews refine the search area. The helicopter arrived at 7:56 a.m. and found the man on shore wearing a survival suit and signaling with a flare. The man and dogs had swum to shore, and they were transported to emergency medical services personnel in Juneau. They were reportedly in good condition at the time of the rescue.

The Douglas Denman crew found the Bailey Bay submerged and launched a small boat crew to inspect the wreckage. The vessel was producing a small sheen, reportedly had less than 75 gallons of diesel aboard, and was sunk in 30 feet of water with minimal sheening. The owner plans salvage operations. The cause is under investigation.