A 15-year-old boy survived after spending two days stranded on a capsized fishing boat in the Bering Sea near Alaska. Derek Parker Aghnaanga was the only survivor after the 18-foot vessel overturned, resulting in the deaths of his older brother and cousin.

The group had set out from St. Lawrence Island on September 4. When they failed to return, a search operation was launched two days later. The conditions were harsh, with sea temperatures hovering around 10 degrees Celsius, and Derek managed to cling to the overturned skiff without food or water during that time.

The boy was eventually spotted by an aircrew on September 8 and was rescued by a nearby boat. Efforts also recovered the bodies of his relatives. The man involved in the rescue, Adam White, described Derek as “one tough kid” in recognition of his resilience amid the ordeal.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the capsizing, but the details released so far highlight the dangerous conditions faced by those working in the region’s waters.