An injured hiker was rescued from the steep and rocky shore near Skagway, thanks to the sharp sight and hearing of the crew and passengers of the state ferry Malaspina.
The rescue occurred on the evening of June 23 as the Malaspina was approaching the Skagway harbor after traveling from Haines. According to written accounts from Capt. Nick Kollars and Second Mate Leif Short-Forrer, Crewman Roger Sperber was manning the bow lookout when he reported hearing faint cries for help at about 10:40 p.m. He contacted the bridge and Capt. Nick Kollars began backing and turning the ferry while Chief Mate Mike Barrett and Deck Cadet Cody Hanas searched the shoreline with binoculars.
Several passengers also reported hearing faint calls for help. The crew put out an announcement for passengers to help in scanning the shore.
Hanas was the first to spot 33-year-old Joey Nowiki who was yelling and waving at the ferry from a rocky and steep area of the shore, just above the tide line.
Crew members Short-Forrer and boatswain Clark Posey launched the ferry’s Fast Rescue Boat to rescue Nowiki. They were able to help Nowiki climb from the cliff face into the bow of the rescue boat. Short-Forrer wrote in his report that although conscious, Nowiki was shaking uncontrollably and bleeding from the head. Short-Forrer and Posey brought Nowiki directly to the Skagway harbor where an ambulance was waiting.
According to ferry and emergency personnel, Nowiki, a seasonal employee in Skagway, said he was hiking along Sturgill’s Landing Trail and tumbled down the cliffs, into the waters of Taiya Inlet. He was able to swim to shore.
Short-Forrer wrote that Nowiki’s location was so isolated that rescue from land would not have been possible because of the steep cliffs he was near. He also noted that Nowiki likely would have been forced back into the water eventually by the rising tide.
Nowiki told rescuers he was about to try to swim to the Malaspina for help before the ferry turned toward him and shined a spotlight on him.
The Skagway Police Department reported Nowiki was taken to Skagway’s Dahl Memorial Clinic, was treated and released.