Alaska man, 43, filmed his own drowning in glacial lake with GoPro camera mounted on his helmet – but his body has still not been found
- Alaska State Troopers made the announcement on Tuesday, after discovering the harrowing footage during their search for still-missing Paul Rodriguez Jr, 43
- Last seen on July 10, the avid outdoorsman is believed to have set out on the ill-fated excursion on July 11, posting to social media pictures of a kayak on a beach
- Cops said they discovered the same kayak floating unattended on the lake, leading to the search effort. It will continue until the kayaker’s body is found
A kayaker inadvertently filmed his own drowning death with a GoPro camera that had been mounted to his head, police have revealed.
Alaska State Troopers made the announcement on Tuesday, after discovering the harrowing footage during their search for still-missing Paul Rodriguez Jr, 43, in a glacial lake.
Last seen on July 10 by his roommate, the avid outdoorsman is believed to have set out on the ill-fated excursion on July 11, posting to social media pictures of a kayak on a beach near Nugget Falls, an area set along the lake.
Cops said they discovered the same kayak floating unattended on the lake – where sea temperatures are around 50 degrees Fahrenheit this time of year – on Monday, leading to the recent search effort.
Despite launching helicopters and specially trained sea dogs to scan the sprawling, 200-foot-deep lake, it was eventually a passing ‘good Samaritan’ who found the missing man’s camera-fitted helmet on the lakeshore Monday, officials said – with officers now revealing the footage contained inside captured his death in full.
Paul Rodriguez Jr, 43, is believed to have disappeared on July 11, when he set out with his kayak to Alaska’s Mendenhall Lake (seen here). The boat was found overturned, spurring a search effort. On Monday, a resident found the adventurer’s GoPro, which cops said showed his death
Cops said they discovered the same kayak floating unattended on the lake – where Rodriguez would regularly fish and boat – on Monday, leading to the three-day search effort
‘A review of the video determined Rodriguez had drowned on July 11 when his kayak overturned, and he went into the glacial water,’ a daily dispatch noted of the day the small craft was found.
‘The recording continued showing that the kayak overturned due to a strong current coming from the glacier,’ Troopers spokesperson Tim DeSpain further confirmed in a Tuesday statement by email.
‘It also showed he was not wearing a life jacket ‘or appropriate protective clothing for glacial water sports,’ troopers also noted.
Relatives of Rodriguez – an intrepid adventurer who regularly posted about his kayaking and hiking exploits in the Mendenhall Glacier area – have been told he has been declared dead based on the footage, they said.
‘Teams will continue to search the lake to recover the body,’ officials added.
The search effort started on Sunday, after workers at the US Forest Service noticed a vehicle had been parked at the center’s lot since July 11.
The vehicle was later confirmed to belong to Rodriguez, and that same day, someone towed an empty kayak to shore and alerted Alaska State Troopers.
Staffers with the Forest Service also said they had seen a man ‘believed to be associated with the vehicle, walking towards the glacier wearing a t-shirt and carrying an ice axe and climbing helmet,’ Juneau police later said.
A resident of Juneau, Rodriguez was an intrepid adventurer, and regularly ventured out into the recreational area near Mendenhall Glacier where the lake (seen here) is set
Authorities who recovered the camera have not yet found his body, but confirmed it contained footage showing him drown
Troopers, Juneau Mountain Rescue and SEADOGS launched the search. on Monday, after speaking with Rodriguez’s roommate and being informed that a kayak that looked like the one Rodriguez had been posted on social media (seen here)
A dry bag was attached to the found kayak, but nothing that identified its owner, investigators said.
‘The complainant reported towing the kayak to shore after finding it unoccupied and no one around it in the lake in distress. AST took possession of the items for safekeeping as there was no identifying markings on the kayak,’ the statement said.
Troopers went on to stash the boat for safekeeping.
Then, on Monday, after speaking with Rodriguez’s roommate and being informed that a kayak that looked like the one Rodriguez had posted on social media, troopers, Juneau Mountain Rescue and SEADOGS launched the search.
An unnamed Juneau resident went on to find the helmet washed up at the lake’s edge the next day, Juneau police spokesman DeSpain confirmed Tuesday.
The search for the deceased, meanwhile, continued Wednesday, as officials seek to give closure to the Juneau residents family.
Relatives such as his teenage son, Jaden, are now recalling how he loved fishing, paddle boarding, snowboarding, and the great outdoors in general, and that he had at some point took up religion to better his life.
‘He was a good person, his son said Wednesday as the search continued.
Relatives such as his son, Jaden, are now recalling how he loved fishing, paddle boarding, snowboarding, and the great outdoors in general, and that he had at some point taken up religion to better his life. His final Facebook post read: ‘Headed up to the glacier!’
He added that his father was kindhearted and enjoyed taking photographs of his outdoor exploits.
His final Facebook post, which friends presented to authorities to help launch the search, showed he and his kayak with a heart wrenching caption.
‘Headed up to the glacier!’ it read.
As of Wednesday afternoon, his body has yet to be found. The search is currently focused along a recreational area of the glacial area.
The footage of Rodriguez’s drowning will not be released.
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