The Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad notified the Alaska State Troopers of a spot beacon activation on Sunday afternoon at 1:17 pm from the Fish Creek camping area.

According to the trooper dispatch on Monday, the beacon activation originated at the camping area in Thorne Bay approximately 18 miles to the east of Ketchikan.

The rescue squad responded via watercraft and aircraft to the area to find that 4 individuals, including a six-year-old child, were overnight camping in the area, when their vessel broke mooring and their boat beached.

43-year-old Alonso Escalante told the rescuers that they had attempted to refloat their vessel, but were unable to do so. It was after failing to re-float their boat that they activated their beacon to summon help.

Members of the rescue squad assisted the campers in re-floating their vessel.

There were no injuries reported in the incident and all involved were back in Ketchikan by 4:45 pm.

  boaters, campers, ketchikan, kvrs, rescue squad, thorne bay, volunteer