A winter hunting trip ended in a fatal boating accident off the coast of Alaska that claimed the lives of 19-year-old Darren Borbridge and 18-year-old Sayer Tuzon. On January 9, 2024, the 26-foot aluminum vessel carrying five young men from Sitka overturned in rough seas near Khaz Point, about 40 miles northwest of Sitka. A Coast Guard helicopter rescued three occupants from the water; Tyson Ross, Justin Ipock and the boat’s operator, James Sturm, survived.

Search crews located the bodies of Borbridge and Tuzon inside the submerged cabin with a remotely-operated vehicle, but hazardous weather prevented divers from recovering them. The overturned boat was tracked with a transponder but was lost again when storm conditions forced the cutter to seek shelter. Extensive air and sea searches covering hundreds of square miles did not relocate the vessel or the two young men.

The Sitka community mourned; fundraisers were organized to help the families, and reports note Tuzon was due to graduate high school while Borbridge was expecting to become a father. A jury later made a finding of presumptive death for both young men. Does anyone have memories of Darren, places he frequented, or information that might shed light on that trip?