Anchorage firefighters recovered the bodies of two women from the waters of Eagle River after a canoe capsized Wednesday afternoon. Rescuers were able to establish contact with a surviving male victim.
According to APD spokesperson Lt. Dave Parker, the man lived after he got caught on debris in the river and was rescued. Police responded after a call from a witness who saw the kayak flip.
Fire dispatchers said the incident, which was reported shortly after 4 p.m., happened south of Mile 9 of Eagle River Road.
AFD assistant chief Jody Hettrick says firefighters have accounted for all the people involved. All three people in the canoe were wearing life jackets, but the women who drowned were swept beneath a log jam in the river and trapped underwater.
Alaska State Troopers and Alaska Air National Guard assets were also called to assist with the search.
Channel 2's Adam Pinsker and Mallory Peebles contributed to this report.
