Law enforcement and emergency responders have paused a search for a missing canoeist until early next week.
The search for 33 year-old Matt Asturi of Nevada began Monday evening when a 911 call by witnesses reported that he had been canoeing on Trail Lake but he was not visible anymore.
The caller told the Soldotna Public Safety Communications Center that he had been drinking before going out on the water and was seen paddling the boat without a life jacket 15 minutes before.
Air, water, and shore searches began that night and continued until yesterday evening.
Megan Peters with the Troopers said alcohol and boating is a problem in Alaska.
Peters: “There’s a confirmed 25% of drowning/boating deaths that are related to alcohol, the number could potentially be higher but sometimes we can’t test people because they’re not found.”
Agencies have now suspended the search until early next week when cadaver dogs and a side scan sonar will be obtained.
Asturi’s family has been notified of the current operations and plans for next week.
