A 36-year-old Washington State resident died last week after falling from the mast of a commercial trawler in Akutan, according to Alaska State Troopers.
Troopers were notified at 7:30 p.m. on July 30 that Vincent Short had fallen from the mast and sustained significant injuries. He died shortly afterward, troopers said in a dispatch report posted July 31. Next of kin have been notified.
A GoFundMe page set up by Short's family identifies the vessel as the fishing vessel Columbia, a 131-foot pollock catcher boat. The U.S. Coast Guard has assumed responsibility for the case, and the investigation remains ongoing, troopers said.
Short is survived by his wife and their three children, ages 12, seven, and five. The family, which has relatives in both the United States and Mexico, launched the fundraiser to help cover memorial expenses, living costs, and the children's education.
"Our hearts are completely broken by the sudden passing of our beloved son, Vincent Frank Short," the family wrote on the fundraising page, describing him as a devoted father, loving husband, and hardworking provider.
