Missing fisherman aboard capsized boat in Alaska identified as Las Vegas local
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - The United States Coast Guard has suspended its search for five missing people aboard a fishing boat that capsized in the Gulf of Alaska.
FOX5 has confirmed that one man aboard is a Las Vegas local, identified as EJ Celaya.
According to local authorities, a distress call came in around midnight on Sunday that a 50-foot fishing boat was overturning.
Celaya’s mother and wife got to Alaska Tuesday night, to get an update from the Coast Guard on Wednesday.
“It’s the unknown that’s killing us, that hurts. We wanted to meet with them to get a little bit more information about the safety, the regulations,” Celaya Crisman said. “Why weren’t there access to life jackets? Not just the life suits, but the life jackets accessible faster enough? We also heard that his boat was too small to be going into that size of a storm, so those are concerns that we have as well.”
After a nearly 24-hour search covering 108 square nautical miles, the Coast Guard released a statement Monday saying it was suspending the search.
His mother tells us she hopes she doesn’t go home empty-handed.
“If we can bring home remains. If he washes up the shore, we’re ready,” Celaya Crisman said. “We’re ready to catch him, to take him home because I feel I’m going home empty-handed and I feel we feel cheated right now and it’s heartbreaking as a mom.“
Coast Guard officials confirmed Tuesday the names of the five missing crewmembers:
- Travis Kapp
- Jacob Hannah
- Alex Ireland
- EJ Celaya
- Michael Brown
Celaya leaves behind two children.
His family set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for his wife and mother to say their goodbyes in Alaska.
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