Round Lake High Graduate Dies While Working On Alaskan Fishing Boat

By Sam Borcia, Lake & McHenry County Scanner

A former Round Lake Beach resident working on an Alaskan fishing boat died after he became tangled in gear and was pulled overboard into the water.

The Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS) said DPS Patrol Vessel Stimson received a mayday call from a commercial salmon fisherman around 12:30 p.m. Friday. The fisherman reported he lost a crewman over the side of the vessel in Kvichak Bay.

Alaska Wildlife Troopers responded to the area with two patrol skiffs, DPS said. They arrived just as the vessel who called the mayday had located and retrieved their unconscious crew member out of the water.

DPS said Alaska Wildlife Troopers performed lifesaving measures for approximately an hour prior to pronouncing the crewman dead.

The victim was identified as Corwin Wheeler, 21, of Wisconsin. Wheeler was a graduate of Round Lake High School and previously lived in Round Lake Beach.

An investigation showed Wheeler had become entangled in fishing gear and was pulled overboard and underwater, DPS said.

Jeff Rowe, Wheeler’s father, said his son was a “wonderful kid” and “becoming an incredible man,” the Alaska public radio station KDLG reported.

Rowe said his son loved fishing in Alaska and made a lot of friends working there. “They, you know, they had really good times. And he was happy,” the father said.

Lake and McHenry County Scanner is a local breaking news website covering issues that matter such as shootings, stabbings, house fires, kidnappings, car accidents, and more around Lake County and McHenry County.