ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Authorities say they suspended the search for a Washington state man whose fishing boat sank off southeastern Alaska. One companion died and one survived.
The missing man, identified as Fred Swenson, unknown age, of Montesano was on a fishing trip with Dennis Monroe, 46, of Montesano and John Reid, 44, of Sitka, Alaska, when their boat was overcome by water and sank off the south end of Baranoff Island Thursday night, the Alaska State Troopers said in a release.
"The rough waters quickly swamped the drop bow style boat with water, causing it to sink," the release said. "Monroe made it to the shore where he spent the night and flagged a boat down with a fishing flasher the next morning."
Reid's body was found Saturday afternoon, the AST statement said.
The search for Swenson was called off Saturday by the U.S. Coast Guard after a 47-hour search, KTUU-TV, Anchorage, reported.
The Coast Guard said rescue crews covered more than 1,224 square miles in the vicinity of the island and Redfish Bay, where the boat sank.
"Suspending a case is one of the hardest decisions that we as search and rescuers have to make and our thoughts and prayers are with the families," said Scott Giard, a command duty officer with Coast Guard Sector Juneau. "We appreciate the support of our partner agencies and good Samaritans to put as many resources on scene as possible and maximize our chances of locating these boaters."
