Sig Hansen: “This Is The Worst Day Of My Entire Life”

A Desperate Search: The Tragic Tale of the Patricia Lee and the Fight for Survival at Sea

The fishing world is often one where danger lurks around every corner, and the relentless seas show no mercy to those who dare to navigate them. Recently, a crab boat with strong ties to Seattle, the Patricia Lee, found itself in the midst of a desperate situation off the coast of Alaska. With five crew members still missing, an intense search has been underway, but the events leading up to this tragedy bring the harsh realities of life at sea into sharp focus.

In 2017, a crab boat called the FV Destination tragically sank in the Bering Sea, taking the lives of all six crew members on board. The memories of that tragic incident are still fresh in the minds of many in the fishing community, including Captain Sig Hansen, who spoke of the terrifying day the Destination went down, likening it to “the worst day of your life.” The memory of the boat’s deck being submerged instantly and the horrifying struggle to survive between massive anchor pots is a vivid reminder of the dangers these fishermen face every day.

The Patricia Lee encountered a similar fate when it was struck by a monstrous wave 228 miles southwest of Dutch Harbor. The wave surged over the side of the vessel, flooding the deck within seconds and completely submerging the area where deckhand Dean Francis had been working. Tragically, Dean was caught between two heavy anchor pots, unable to escape the flood of water. The greatest concern was that if the wave had injured his iliac artery, his life would be in immediate danger. The storm was raging and growing stronger by the minute, making it nearly impossible to reach safety.

As the crew scrambled to locate Francis, they soon discovered a darker truth—the storm had not only trapped Francis but several others as well. With each passing moment, the situation grew more dire. The storm was now an Arctic beast, a 300-mile-wide nightmare that pushed both the crew and their ship to the limit. In a race against time, they navigated this brutal storm, knowing that their only chance of survival was to reach Dutch Harbor, which was within 100 miles of the Coast Guard’s helicopter range.

The rescue mission became more complicated when the weather at Dutch Harbor started worsening, threatening the safety of the helicopters that were the only hope of getting Francis the medical attention he so desperately needed. The helicopters had only a limited amount of fuel—enough for a 5-hour flight with an extra hour for potential complications—and the storm’s ferocity made the task of rescuing Francis even more perilous.

Despite the terrifying conditions, the Coast Guard’s MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter launched into the storm. Inside, the crew braced for the dangerous task ahead: lowering a rescue swimmer onto the moving deck of the Patricia Lee, securing Francis, and lifting him back into the helicopter. Time was running out, and the pressure was mounting. The helicopter fought against 39-knot headwinds, maneuvering with precision to hover steadily over the deck, which was being tossed by the storm’s violent waves. Any mistake could have fatal consequences.

With flawless coordination, the rescue swimmer was lowered, and after a tense battle with the storm, Francis was finally lifted to safety. The helicopter’s fuel gauge was a constant reminder of how close they were to running out of time, but after what felt like an eternity, the rescue was successful. As Francis was transported back to the helicopter, the crew couldn’t help but feel the immense weight of what they had just endured.

Once safely aboard, Francis was flown to a hospital in Anchorage, 800 miles away, where he received the urgent care he needed. The mission, though fraught with peril, ended in triumph, with the crew’s teamwork and the Coast Guard’s unwavering determination saving Francis’s life. The operation was a testament to the bravery and skill of those who risk their lives every day to save others at sea.

As the helicopter landed, Francis’s recovery was confirmed, providing a sense of relief to his colleagues and the Coast Guard team. The sense of gratitude was palpable, as everyone involved in the rescue operation knew how close they had come to losing him. But even as they celebrated this victory, the tragic loss of life from previous accidents lingered in the minds of those who understood all too well how quickly things could go wrong on the unforgiving seas.

The stark reality of life at sea came into sharper focus when news broke of another tragic incident—the sinking of the Scandies Rose. Just one day after the sinking of the Patricia Lee, the Coast Guard called off the search for the missing fishermen. In a bittersweet twist, two fishermen from the Scandies Rose were miraculously found alive, while the rest of the crew had perished. The reminder that life at sea is fragile and unpredictable echoed through the community, leaving everyone with the same unsettling question: “What if it had been us?”

The fate of the Patricia Lee and its crew is still unfolding, and the community continues to grapple with the emotional toll of this ongoing crisis. But amid the grief, one thing is clear: the bonds formed among the fishermen and the Coast Guard are unbreakable. Each loss, each near-miss, strengthens their resolve to continue doing the hard work that keeps the industry alive. There is a shared understanding that no matter how dangerous the job may be, they are all in this together.

As the season came to a close, there was a sense of accomplishment among the crew members of the Patricia Lee, whose hard work had led to a successful crab season. Yet the uncertainty of the future loomed, as no one knew for sure whether the same crew would return next year. Despite this uncertainty, there was a renewed sense of pride in the work they had done and a determination to face whatever challenges lay ahead, together.

In the end, the resilience of the fishing community was evident. They had faced insurmountable odds, battled against the elements, and come out the other side stronger and more united. The community’s unwavering spirit serves as a reminder that, despite the hardships, life at sea is a bond that no storm can break.