Update Thursday, July 6:
Searchers have found the body of a missing boater on the Little Susitna River.
In an updated dispatch, Alaska State Troopers say Stephen Craig’s body was found submerged and caught in a logjam at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, near the spot on the river where he was last seen Tuesday afternoon.
Mat-Su Borough search and rescue teams responded and helped recover Craig’s body, which was sent to the state medical examiner’s office for an autopsy.
Original story:
A 67-year-old Wasilla man remains missing Wednesday, nearly a day after Alaska State Troopers say he was knocked out of his canoe into the Little Susitna River.
Stephen Craig and a friend had been traveling down the river in separate canoes Tuesday afternoon when the friend saw Craig get knocked out of his canoe by overhanging branches, according to an online trooper dispatch.
“Craig was not wearing a (personal flotation device) and disappeared under the water before the friend could reach him,” troopers said.
Troopers got word of the capsized canoe around 3:15 p.m. Tuesday. Mat-Su Borough medics and river rescue units responded to conduct a water and shoreline search for Craig, with support from an Alaska Wildlife Troopers helicopter. After five hours of searching he wasn’t found.
Troopers say they do not believe alcohol was a factor in the incident, but urge boaters to wear personal flotation devices whenever they are on the water.
Search efforts were continuing Wednesday, troopers said.
Chris Klint is a web producer and breaking news reporter at Alaska Public Media. Reach him at cklint@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Chris here.
