Alaska Wildlife Troopers received a report of a man floating out to sea on a large chunk of ice in Cook Inlet near Anchor Point tractor launch. The incident happened on Saturday the 26th after 11:00 a.m. The man was later identified as 45-year-old Jamie Snedden from Homer, who was walking along the shoreline on the ice when it broke free and drifted into Cook Inlet. At 11:47 a.m., an AWT trooper arrived and located Snedden approximately 300 yards off shore near the mouth of the Anchor River. Snedden was submerged in the water with only his head and arms visible as he clung to a large piece of ice.
The U.S. Coast Guard was notified and had an unknown ETA for arrival on scene, however a local fishing boat, the F/V Misty was in the area and responded from approximately three miles away. It appeared that Snedden was having difficulty staying afloat and was not wearing a personal flotation device. The trooper launched an inflatable raft and rowed out to Snedden arriving at the same time as the F/V Misty. Snedden was pulled onboard the F/V Misty where he was observed to be conscious and breathing but very hypothermic, according to the online trooper dispatch.
Due to the Homer Harbor being over an hour away, Snedden was transported to the waiting EMS at the Anchor Point Tractor launch. Captain Blakely, who motored the F/V Misty to approximately 100 yards off shore of the tractor launch where Snedden was loaded onto the raft and transported to the Anchor Point EMS on shore.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard Alaska, Petty Officer 3rd Class Malcolm LeGloahec, communications unit watchstander at Sector Anchorage, said:
“Due to recent warm temperatures, sea ice throughout Alaska is melting rapidly and is not safe to walk on in many instances. This case stresses the importance of maintaining working relationships with our state and local partner agencies. Rapid transmission of information and cooperation among all of our teams enabled a timely response from the good Samaritan crew aboard charter vessel Misty. Western Emergency Services, Alaska State Troopers, Homer Volunteer Fire Department and the USCG all worked together on this rescue, but we are thankful beyond words for the heroic actions of Misty’s crew today. This is a reminder to the public to be aware and to be careful when engaging in activities in or around the ice that may be affected by local tides and currents. There are limited agency resources that are readily available to respond in a timely manner and these cases do not all have happy endings.”
Snedden was transported to South Peninsula Hospital where he was treated for hypothermia and is expected to fully recover.