Derek Parker Aghnaanga was 15 years old when he went fishing with his 35-year-old older brother, Sidney Kulowiyi, and his 34-year-old cousin, Barton Rookok. What seemed like an ordinary outing ended up becoming a desperate struggle to survive in the icy waters of the Bering Sea.
The boat capsized near St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, leaving all three exposed to the cold, waves, and darkness. Derek managed to remain on the overturned boat, but his relatives were not as fortunate.
According to his family, the teenager tried to stay with his brother’s and cousin’s bodies after they died, while desperately waiting for someone to find them.
Derek remained adrift for approximately 62 hours, without food or water, until he was located by the Coast Guard and rescued by the crew of the fishing vessel Northwest Explorer. When they found him, he showed symptoms of hypothermia and was completely exhausted.
His mother said that the teenager survived by clinging to prayer during those days. But behind the incredible survival story was a family tragedy: Derek returned alive, although he had lost his brother and cousin.
The story also rallied the community. Relatives launched a campaign to help with funeral expenses and support the teenager and his loved ones. Within a few days, the fundraiser had surpassed US$47.000, even exceeding the initial goal of US$45.000.
After surviving one of the most difficult moments of his life, Derek not only returned home with an extraordinary story of resilience: he also found a community willing to stand by him as he tries to rebuild his life.
Watch the moment of his rescue here: