(SitNews) Sitka, Alaska - Alaska State Troopers received notification Saturday from the United States Coast Guard that the body of 44 year-old John Reid of Sitka, had been located in open water 7 miles offshore due west from the southern tip of Baranof Island. Reid's body was flown to Sitka where his identity was confirmed and Next of Kin were notified.

Dennis Monroe, 46, of Montesano, Wash, was rescued from Cape Ommaney where he was stranded overnight Thursday on the south end of Baranoff Island. Monroe reported that he, Reid, and Fred Swenson, of Montesano, Washington, left Sitka at 2:00 pm on Thursday aboard the 24 foot F/V Tanya Faith to go to Redfish Bay to fish for sockeye salmon.

According to the Alaska State Troopers, Monroe reported they ended up overshooting Redfish Bay and turning around. The rough waters quickly swamped the drop bow style boat with water, causing it to sink.

Monroe made it to the shore where he spent the night and flagged a boat down with a fishing flasher the next morning. Monroe was rescued by good Samaritans aboard the fishing vessel Otter Friday morning. Monroe, taken to Sitka, reported his craft sank at about 8 p.m. Thursday night and that all three people had attempted to swim to shore wearing lifejackets.

The location or condition of Reid and Swenson were unknown Friday morning.

The USCG conducted a Search And Rescue (SAR) with both vessels and aircraft for the two missing men. Several other fishing vessels and the Civil Air Patrol also searched the waters and air.

The USCG continued searching throughout the Friday night and Saturday locating Reid's body Saturday.

Although the debris field of the vessel was found, the third missing boater - Fred Swenson, of Montesano, Washington - remained lost. After no further success, the search was called off on Saturday night. The search had covered 1,224 square miles of the area before coming to a close.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Sources of News: 

Alaska Department of Public Safety
www.dps.state.ak.us

USCG
www.uscg.mil

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