Some good Samaritans and the U.S. Coast Guard helped recover two fishermen from frigid waters near Alaska this week.

The fishing boat Tanusha took on water and sent out a distress signal using an emergency positioning beacon 23 miles off the coast of Kodiak at 9:48 a.m. Wednesday, the Coast Guard said in a release Thursday.

Another fishing boat, the Victory, responded and found the Tanusha capsized and the two unnamed crewmen aboard a life raft.  

A Coast Guard helicopter proceeded to airlift the two men with the help of Alaska State Troopers. The fishermen were taken for medical treatment, with one of them suffering a head injury as well as showing signs of hypothermia, the Coast Guard said.

The Tanusha specialized in hauling in crabs, according to the Kodiak Daily Mirror. 

The 2025 fishing season for Tanner crab opened just hours before the Tanusha capsized, reported Kodiak radio station KMXT.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.