Coast Guard rescues man and dog in Gastineau Channel in duct-taped inflatable

A man trying to cross Gastineau Channel, near Juneau, on a homemade watercraft found himself in a spot of bother Wednesday (June 7).

A man paddles a homemade watercraft in the Gastineau channel, near Juneau, Alaska, June 7, 2017. A Coast Guard Station Juneau smallboat crew rescued a 32-year-old man after the craft began taking on water. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

A Coast Guard Station Juneau crew picked the 32-year-old up. According to a news release, he was trying to reach Point Bishop in an inflatable, duct-taped craft when it began taking on water. He was not wearing a life jacket, the release said.

A 25-foot Coast Guard small boat and crew responded, deemed the craft unsafe and transferred it, the man — and his dog — to Douglas Harbor.

Weather on scene was reportedly calm with 9 mile per hour winds.

The release did not identify the man.

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