While searching for a man who drowned over the weekend, local search and rescue members found another body in the Kuskokwim River.
Searchers discovered the body on Tuesday afternoon in front of Bethel’s Crowley fuel dock. It was wearing winter clothing and appears to have been decomposing for many months.
Bethel Search and Rescue President Mike Riley says that the only two people missing in the area are Stacey Hoalgand, who was last seen on September 13, 2018, and Daniel Smith, who was last seen on October 21, 2018. The body will be sent to Anchorage for the State Medical Examiner to identify.
Meanwhile, a search continues for a Napaskiak man who drowned on Saturday. Paul Kaganak, age 43, fell in the water when he attempted to leave his skiff after it drifted in front of a barge near Bethel’s Crowley fuel dock. The strong current combined with the barge’s wave action may have threatened to tip the boat. Two other people in the skiff exited safely with help from the barge’s crew, according to Riley.
On Tuesday afternoon, 14 boats filled with searchers dragged the river for Kaganak. Volunteers came from Napaskiak, Napakiak, Kwethluk, Akiachak, and Bethel. Searchers plan to continue the effort until they recover the lost man.
Riley asks boaters to move slowly past the search party to avoid disturbing the chains dragging the river.
