A whaling captain and crew member from Utqiagvik (Barrow) have been lost in an whaling accident. They had a successful whale hunt and were bringing the whale back in when the boat capsized.
Details are not available yet as the community is gathering and family is being notified.
These are the first whaling deaths in as many as 20 years in the North Slope community.
“North Slope Borough Mayor Harry K. Brower Jr. Is asking that media respect the wishes of the whaling community and whaling captains of Utqiagvik as the community mourns the loss of two crew members,” said a statement from the community this morning.
This story will be updated.
