The Coast Guard says he was part of a salvage team assessing the Cougar Ace Sunday when he fell about 80 feet and was knocked unconscious.

He was taken to a Coast Guard cutter where he was declared dead. His name has not been released.

The 654-foot Cougar Ace has been drifting more than a week near the Aleutian Islands, after tipping on its side while the crew was adjusting the ballast.

The ship is loaded with nearly 5,000 cars, mostly Mazdas that were destined for delivering in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Tacoma.