Friend realizes paddleboarder is missing, then body found, Alaska rescuers say
A man last seen paddleboarding on a lake near Anchorage vanished, Alaska firefighters reported.
A friend called 911 after realizing they had not seen him for about 15 minutes on DeLong Lake on Sunday, July 27, the Anchorage Fire Department said in a news release.
Firefighters searched for the man, who was not wearing a life jacket, using boats and paddleboards, the agency said.
Divers with the Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team found his body in 22 feet of water using sonar, firefighters said.
The 21-year-old man was a Romanian student visiting Alaska, Alaska’s News Source reported.
A friend told the Anchorage Daily News that it was the man’s second visit to Alaska.
“He loved it the first time, he returned to the same hotel, to the same place, because it had brought him joy and peace,” Andreea Oprea told the publication.
What to know about drowning
At least 4,000 people die from drowning every year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and drowning is a leading cause of death for children.
Some factors can make drowning more likely, including not knowing how to swim, a lack of close supervision, not wearing a life jacket, and drinking alcohol while recreating near or in water.
The National Drowning Prevention Alliance said there are tips to help keep you safe in the water, including checking local weather conditions, never swimming alone and choosing the right equipment.
“Don’t hesitate to get out of the water if something doesn’t feel right,” the group said on its website. “Whether it’s that the current is getting rough, rain has started to fall, or your body is just not responding like you would like it to due to fatigue or muscle cramps, then just leave and return to the water another day. It’s always a good thing to trust your instincts.”
This story was originally published July 30, 2025 at 12:18 PM with the headline "Friend realizes paddleboarder is missing, then body found, Alaska rescuers say."