Four people, including a 9-year-old boy, were safely rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard after being trapped on an ice floe during a seal hunting expedition near Chefornak, Alaska. The group had been stranded for over 24 hours and managed to free their vessel overnight, but shifting ice prevented them from reaching shore. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak conducted the rescue in challenging conditions, including 28-degree temperatures, 29 mph winds, near-zero visibility, blowing snow, and icing, which the pilot described as one of the most difficult missions they had ever flown.

The four individuals—three men aged 20, 49, and 55, along with the boy—were hoisted aboard and transported safely back to Chefornak with no injuries. Their vessel, which had three seals aboard, was left behind. The Coast Guard credited the hunting party’s use of multiple communication devices, including satellite-based systems, for facilitating the successful location and rescue. The mission highlighted the crew’s skill and coordination in overcoming severe Alaska-specific aviation hazards to bring the group home safely.