In a harrowing event off Alaska’s coastline, a luxury charter fishing boat succumbed to a tragic end.

The accident resulted in the loss of one life and left four individuals missing.

Kingfisher Charters, a highly regarded fishing charter company in Sitka, sounded the alarm on Sunday, May 28, when one of their boats carrying five individuals didn’t return as scheduled. This prompted the Coast Guard to immediately initiate a rescue mission to find the missing vessel.

The following day, Monday, May 29, search crews found the lifeless body of a man who was without a life vest. The 30-foot aluminum charter boat was discovered partially submerged near Low Island, about a mile east of Shoals Point on Kruzof Island. The boat’s last known location was close to Sitka, a city and borough situated near Juneau, Alaska’s capital.

The Coast Guard confirmed that the doomed boat had a master and four passengers aboard. Despite a rigorous search operation that lasted more than 20 hours and covered an estimated 825 square miles using helicopters and boats, the search for the missing people was reluctantly halted at about 9:30 p.m. on Monday.

The search conditions were challenging, with wave heights of six to 11 feet reported during the boat’s departure on Sunday, according to Petty Officer Gray.

In a statement, Captain Darwin Jensen, the Captain of the Port in Southeast Alaska, voiced his deep sorrow over the decision to suspend the search. He extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and thanked the community partners and good Samaritan vessels that lent a hand in the operation.

At this time, the names of the deceased and the four missing persons are being withheld from the public.

Kingfisher Charters is known for their comprehensive fishing packages and guided tours on 30-foot power boats for up to six anglers.