A Dillingham man, 25 year old Joey J. Paul, died yesterday after falling into the vessel's the engine shaft area while fishing near Chignik Lagoon. Beth Ipsen is a spokesperson for the Alaska State Troopers.
"He fell about 5 feet onto the shaft in the engine," said Ipsen.
The engine was running at the time. Ipsen says crewemembers retrieved Paul from where he fell. She says Paul was working on the 38 foot fishing vessel Aleut Sisters. Paul was transported to the Chignik Lagoon Clinic where he was pronounced deceased. The State Medical Examiner's Office was contacted and an autopsy was requested. Next of kin have been notified. No foul play is suspected. OSHA has been contacted and will be looking into the incident.