On January 15, 2005, a then 33-year-old Manu Lagai was working as a crew member aboard the F/V Sultan, a 134-foot crab fishing vessel, in the frigid waters of the Bering Sea. It was the opening day of the opilio crab season, a notoriously dangerous time for fishermen in Alaska. The vessel was approximately 150 miles northwest of St. Paul Island when a tragic accident occurred. Lagai was reportedly struck by a crab pot and knocked overboard into the treacherous sea. He was wearing orange rain gear but did not have any type of personal flotation device on.
The crew of the F/V Sultan immediately sprang into action, with another crewmember donning a survival suit in an attempt to rescue Lagai. Despite the crewmember's heroic efforts, they were unable to hold onto Lagai, and he slipped from their grasp. The vessel quickly lost sight of him in the vast and unforgiving waters. An Urgent Marine Information Broadcast was issued, and a search was initiated. Several other vessels in the area, including the Icy Bay, Sandra 5, Southern Wind, and Fierce Contender, joined the F/V Sultan and aircraft in an extensive search that continued through the night.
Tragically, the comprehensive search efforts were unsuccessful, and Manu Lagai was never recovered. The incident was one of two separate tragedies to strike the crabbing fleet that same day, highlighting the immense dangers faced by those who work in one of the nation's most perilous occupations. A memorial service for Lagai was held later that month. The case serves as a somber reminder of the risks inherent in the Alaskan fishing industry and the lives that have been lost to the tempestuous Bering Sea.
Last Seen: Jan 15, 2005
