It's shaping up to be a quiet Friday night at the US Coast Guard's remote rescue station in Sitka, Alaska.

With a violent storm due to sweep across the region at any moment, chances are no one would be crazy enough to be out in that kind of weather.

But then a mayday call comes in. 

An unknown vessel is in distress, somewhere in the frigid waters of the Gulf of Alaska. 

Within an hour, windspeeds out there are hitting 150mph while waves are cresting at well over 100ft. 

What ensues has been described as the most harrowing and tragic search and rescue mission ever attempted in the state.

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