On August 1, 2013, what began as a fishing and camping adventure for three old high school friends ended in tragedy in the waters of southeastern Alaska. Frederick Hjalmar Swenson, a 43-year-old man from Montesano, Washington, was on a trip with his friends, Dennis Monroe and John Reid, near Sitka. The group was traveling in a 24-foot aluminum fishing boat, heading for the southern tip of Baranof Island for their excursion.
At the time of his disappearance, Frederick was believed to be wearing jeans and a blue or green float coat.
The three friends reportedly missed their intended rendezvous spot and, upon turning their vessel around, encountered unexpectedly strong winds and large waves. The perilous conditions quickly overwhelmed their boat, swamping it approximately 200 yards from the shore. All three men were wearing life jackets and managed to cling to a small raft initially, but the turbulent sea soon tossed them out and separated them. It was a harrowing fight for survival against the powerful Alaskan waters.
In the ensuing struggle, both Frederick Swenson and Dennis Monroe were able to make it to a rock situated about halfway to the shore. From that precarious position, they witnessed their friend John Reid struggling in the water before he was swept out of sight. The ordeal for the two men on the rock was far from over, as a rising tide eventually forced them to abandon their temporary refuge and attempt to make it to land. Only Monroe successfully reached the shore; when he looked back for his friend, Swenson was no longer visible in the darkness. Monroe endured a cold night before being rescued the following day by a fishing boat after he used a reflective lure to signal for help. An extensive search was launched by the Coast Guard, Canadian officials, and civilian volunteers. Tragically, searchers recovered the body of John Reid, but after scouring the area, the official search for Frederick Swenson was called off, and he was never found.Last Seen: Aug 1, 2013
