Key takeaways:
- Paul Rodriguez Jr., 43, of Juneau, drowned while kayaking on Mendenhall Lake on July 11.
- The incident was inadvertently recorded on a GoPro camera mounted on his helmet.
- Search teams have been looking for Rodriguez’s body since the incident, but have not yet been successful.
An Alaska man’s tragic drowning was inadvertently recorded on a GoPro camera mounted on his helmet, but authorities have not yet found his body, officials said Tuesday.
Alaska State Troopers said Paul Rodriguez Jr., 43, of Juneau, was kayaking on Mendenhall Lake on July 11 when his kayak overturned due to a strong current coming from the glacier. The helmet with the camera attached to it was recording the incident, and was later found on the lakeshore.
“The recording continued showing that the kayak overturned due to a strong current coming from the glacier,” Troopers spokesperson Tim DeSpain said by email.
Search teams have been looking for Rodriguez’s body since the incident, but have not yet been successful. The search is ongoing and is being conducted by Alaska State Troopers, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Juneau Police Department, and the Juneau Mountain Rescue.
The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of kayaking in glacial lakes, and of the importance of wearing safety equipment and following safety protocols. Alaska State Troopers urge anyone planning to kayak in glacial lakes to take the necessary precautions and to be aware of the potential risks.
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