Nevada man dies after falling overboard in Saw Mill Bay near Valdez

A 39-year-old Nevada man died after falling from a fishing boat anchored in Saw Mill Bay, about 10 miles outside Valdez Harbor. Volunteer divers recovered his body roughly 21 hours later.

Guy Erikson went into the water at 12:10 am Sunday, falling from the fishing vessel Inlet Sunrise, the Coast Guard and Alaska Wildlife Troopers said. The Coast Guard led the initial search at sea, with a boat crew and a helicopter joining about ten other vessels that came to help. The Coast Guard suspended its search at 10:45 am and handed the effort to the troopers about 15 minutes later.

The troopers called in the Alaska Dive Rescue Team, whose unpaid volunteers found and recovered Erikson's body at about 9 pm that day, in the water near where he had gone missing. Conditions on scene were calm, with light winds and an air temperature of 49 degrees.

"Our deepest condolences are with the families, colleagues and crewmembers affected by this incident," said Capt. Joel Carse, a Coast Guard sector commander, who said the agency and its partners are committed to a thorough investigation.

Erikson's next of kin have been notified, and his body is being taken to the State Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy. The troopers and the Coast Guard are both still investigating. Neither has stated a cause, or said whether Erikson was wearing a life jacket.