7 people, who had been stranded for one week at remote Alaskan fish camp, are being saved by helicopter

  • After being trapped for over a week in a remote Alaskan fishing camp, seven people needed to be airlifted onto a helicopter on Thursday night.
  • The Yukon River had frozen the group, and it was located approximately 20 miles east the tiny town of Emmonak. Emmonak is home to just 815 inhabitants. 
  • The rescue effort was delayed for days by weather conditions and problems with the helicopter. 
  • US Coast Guard were able to drop food and medication by plane on Sunday October 31, before being rescued by helicopter, Thursday October 4.
  • Officials stated that six people and one teenager were taken from the remote location to a helicopter, and then flown to Nome (about 130 miles from the fishing camp). 
  • Emmonak is located at 490 Miles from Anchorage, Western Alaska. It’s along the Bering Sea coast. 










According to Alaska State Troopers, seven people were stranded at an Alaskan fishing camp for over a week and needed to be evacuated by helicopter.

The Yukon River had frozen the group, and it was located approximately 20 miles east the small city Emmonak. Emmonak is home to only 815 inhabitants.

US Coast Guard was notified by the crew that they were stuck Oct 29th. But bad weather and problems with their rescue helicopter first prevented their rescue.  

Seven people had to be rescued after being stranded for a week at a remote Alaska fishing camp, pictured, according to Alaska State Troopers

According to Alaska State Troopers, seven people were left stranded at an Alaskan fishing camp for over a week.

Pictured: two of the seven hunters who were stranded for a week at a remote Alaska fishing camp

Two of the seven Alaska hunters left behind after being stranded in remote Alaska for over a week.

Pictured: The stranded hunters received a supply drop on Sunday, October 31 that contained food and medicine, according to authorities

Pictured: According to authorities, the supply drop that included food and medication was delivered on Sunday 31st October to stranded hunter.

Pictured: the US Coast Guard drops supplies by parachute with a cargo and search aircraft

 Pictured: the US Coast Guard drops supplies by parachute with a cargo and search aircraft

Troopers said that earlier in the day, they had informed their group that it was being adequately supplied with water, food and other supplies. 

There were no injuries. 

Officials reported that the six teenagers and their parents were finally airlifted out of the site in an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter. From there, they were taken to Nome which is approximately 130 miles from the fishing camps. 

The closest town to where the camp was located, Emmonak, does not have roads, with supplies containing food and medicine being dropped by parachute by a cargo and search aircraft on Sunday, October 31.

Rex Nick was one of the rescued hunter who told KTUU that the group went on a hunting trip October 25. 

He said that the river had iced three days later, on October 28. 

Pictured: the view from a rescue helicopter as it approaches the remote fishing camp, where seven hunters had become stranded

The view from the rescue helicopter approaching the remote fishing camp where seven hunters were stranded.

Pictured: another hunter is rescued after being lifted into a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter

Pictured: another hunter is rescued after being lifted into a MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter

Emmonak, pictured, is located 490 miles from Anchorage in Western Alaska, along the coast of the Bering Sea

Emmonak is 490 miles away from Anchorage, Western Alaska. It’s located along the Bering Sea coast.

He said that it was like the plane would be there and the helicopter would be there. However, he also told the station that the frustrating wait for rescue had been.

Pilot Station hunters managed to reach authorities using an Inreach satellite-based communication device. This was because there wasn’t any cell phone coverage.  

The Associated Press reports Petty Officer 1st Class Ali Blackburn said that that a break in the bad weather allowed its helicopter to fly Thursday and rescue the group.

KTUU reported that crews were grounded several days due to freezing fog. 

Emmonak located 490 miles from Anchorage in Western Alaska, along the coast Bering Sea.

Advertisement