A Wisconsin man died after slipping and falling off a sports fishing charter vessel in Barlow Cove on Sunday, according to the Alaska State Troopers. No foul play is suspected.
Theodore Short, 69, of Osseo, was attempting to walk from the stern of the boat to the bow when he lost his footing and fell into the water, according to a dispatch published Monday. Alisha Seward, incident commander for the troopers, said the initial marine radio call to emergency officials was at 11:34 a.m.
“When he went into the water the captain and the crew member threw a life ring that he held onto,” she said. “As the captain was turning around the boat he said it seemed like there was a wave that kind of overtook (Short) for a little bit, so he went underwater for a bit during that brief wave that they saw. They were then able to get him onto the swim step and then get him onto the back of the boat.”
Short became unresponsive after being brought onto the swim step, according to the AST dispatch.
CPR was performed on Short while he was on the boat, which was met by Alaska Wildlife Troopers and Capital City Fire/Rescue officials at Statter Harbor, Seward said. She said CPR continued during the ambulance ride to Bartlett Regional Hospital, where he was ultimately pronounced dead. His next of kin was notified and his remains released to his family.
A second passenger attempting to help get Short back on the boat suffered a broken femur, Seward said.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.
