Alaska Ranger rescue documentary airs on Discovery
March 2nd, 2010 | Coast Guard Navy | Posted by Susan Schept
The Alaska Ranger sank 120 miles west of Dutch Harbor March 23, 2008. Seaman Gregory Crane and Seaman Nathan Cramer aboard the high endurance cutter Munro assist a crew member from the Alaska Ranger. // Coast Guard
A Coast Guardsman from Air Station Barbers Point will be featured in the cable documentary, “Mayday! Bering Sea,” which is scheduled to air 9 p.m. and 12 a.m. EST (6 p.m. and 9 p.m. PST) Wednesday on the Discovery Channel, according to the Coast Guard.
The documentary recounts the story of the Alaska Ranger, a 189-foot fishing vessel that sunk in the icy waters of the Bering Sea, March 23, 2008. Aviation Survival Technican 2ndClass Abram Heller is credited with saving eight of the 42 fishermen who went into the water after the Alaska Ranger sank. Heller received the Distinguished Flying Cross. In total, crews from Air Station Kodiak and the high endurance cutter Munro rescued 20 Alaska Ranger crewmembers in 10–foot seas and 25-mph winds.
Coasties also will be featured on Oprah on Thursday when the talk show host interviews service members from the Tampa Bay area who helped rescue NFL player Nick Schuyler. To keep track of other upcoming shows, click here.