21-year-old Bristol Bay fisherman dies after tangled in gear and went overboard, troopers say

A 21-year-old commercial fisherman died Friday after he became entangled in his gear and was pulled overboard in the Bristol Bay region, Alaska State Troopers said.

The Department of Public Safety patrol vessel received a call for help from salmon fishermen aboard the Anny Joy in Kvichak Bay around 12:30 p.m. because Corwin Wheeler had fallen overboard, a troop spokesman said , Austin McDaniel.

Two patrol boats responded to the boat just as the crew pulled Wheeler from the water, troopers said. He was in the water for about half an hour before being pulled back onto the boat, McDaniel said. He was unconscious at the time, troopers said.

Wildland troopers performed life-saving measures for about an hour before Wheeler was pronounced dead, according to troopers.

The captain and three other crew members were on board when Wheeler became entangled in fishing gear and was pulled overboard and underwater, McDaniel said.

Wheeler was from Wisconsin and his next of kin had been notified, troopers said.