The Skagway Volunteer Fire Department rescued a person from a capsized vessel about halfway between Haines and Skagway in Taiya Inlet Sunday night.

Coast Guard public information officer Jennifer Ferreira said the department launched a boat and rescued one person “who was clinging to the hull of the capsized vessel.”

Ferreira said the sailing vessel capsized north of Indian Rock, near a waterfall called “High Falls.”

Glen Jacobson, who regularly runs the Haines to Skagway route on the Fjordland, said the falls are also called “Long Falls” and located near the outlet of the Schubee Glacier on the eastern side of the canal.

Both Ferreira and Skagway fire chief Jeremy Simmons said they didn’t know the hometown of the man who owned the vessel, called “The Catalina.”

Ferreira said there was no pollution from the vessel. “The vessel is still out there. It is typically the owner’s responsibly to salvage their vessel,” she said.

Haines Borough assistant harbormaster Gabe Thomas said he responded to the call with harbormaster Shawn Bell, but turned around when they received word the Skagway team was on scene. 

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