Search ends for missing mariner

A four-day search for missing fisherman Kenneth Trammel ended Nov. 18, after his body was recovered offshore near Earl West Cove.

Trammel, 53, had left Wrangell on Nov. 5 in his white 38-foot Bayliner, “Thalasa,” with hand trolling gear, and was scheduled to return five days later. He was reported missing to Alaska State Troopers on Nov. 15. Relatives were unsure where he had intended to go, and Trammel had not been seen or heard from after departing.

Shortly after he was reported missing, Wrangell’s Alaska Wildlife Trooper Fred Burke started searching in a small craft to the west and north of the island.

Wrangell Fire Chief Tim Buness joined the search from above in his Cessna 185, flying over the backchannel and Snow Pass area through the afternoon. The United States Coast Guard deployed the Petersburg-based cutter “Anacapa” and a helicopter.

Lt. Jennifer Ferreira with USCG in Juneau reported seven different assets were used in the search, including two helicopters, two 45-foot boats, the cutter, and the Cessna commandeered by Tim Buness and his son.

High winds and poor weather made search efforts difficult the next day, with rough water preventing the Troopers from sending out a boat and grounding Buness’ plane. The Coast Guard’s search was suspended that evening due to the weather advisory, but was resumed the following morning with clearer conditions to work with.

On Nov. 17 a closely coordinated effort was made between the three organizations to search by sea and air.

“We had specific search areas and patterns that the Coast Guard laid out for us,” Buness said. The Cessna was flown around the island again, going as far south as Meyers Chuck.

Firefighter Steve Prysunka’s search dog Katilli was employed the morning of Nov. 18, focusing on the Earl West Cove area. Ferreira said a passerby had earlier discovered a fishing tote floating in the area, which may have belonged to Trammel.

“We sent [Prysunka] and another member down by vehicle,” said Buness. The body was discovered by the dog in the afternoon, 12 miles southeast of Wrangell.

The body was transported to town and positively identified as Trammel by next of kin. The body has been transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.

As of Monday afternoon, AST had not received a cause of death determination from the state medical examiner, but no foul play is suspected.

The location of the sunken boat remains unconfirmed, following use of a fathometer by USCG searchers in the cove.

“They found some shallow spots,” Ferreira said. Coast Guard and Troopers could not discern any signs of fuel leakage or pollution in the area.

After concluding the search, in a release AST expressed its thanks to the Coast Guard, Wrangell Fire Department, and numerous Good Samaritans who assisted in the search. Buness estimated fire department volunteers put 150 hours into the search, and that between 1,000 to 1,200 air miles were flown.

A memorial service for Trammel was held yesterday evening at the American Legion Hall.