Search for boy’s body continues

ALASKA NEWSPAPERS STAFF
editor@alaskanewspapers.com

June 09, 2008 at 3:13PM AKST

The search for the body of a 2-year old boy who earlier this month fell into the Kanektok River about four miles north of Quinhagak continued into its ninth day Monday, Alaska State Troopers said.

“Right now, it’s a body recovery and not a search and rescue,” Trooper Sgt. Teague Widmier said. “If nothing is found, the status will be that of a missing person, and a decision will have to be made to when the state of Alaska withdraws from the recovery.”

According to troopers, the boy, whose identity isn’t being made public, was on a picnic with his parents June 1 when he fell into the river. He wasn’t wearing a personal floatation device. No alcohol was involved.

State officials said about 100 individuals, including troopers, Village Public Safety Officers, local search and rescue groups and private citizens, have assisted in the recovery effort. Many businesses in the area have gotten involved as well, including Yute Air which has voluntarily flown people in and out of the search area. Other air carriers have donated freight space.

“The volunteers have come from villages all over the area,” Widmier said. “They are volunteers working on their own time.”

Widmier said the boy’s family is obviously upset emotionally. Troopers talked with the family on the day of the incident but haven’t since.

“We don’t want to bother them,” he said.