Copper Center, AK -- The National Park Service Alaska Regional Communications Center
(ARCC) was contacted by the Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) at joint base
Elmendorf-Richardson at 7:05 am on Sunday, August 10 with a report of a missing
rafter along the Tana River-- a large, glacial tributary of the Chitina River
within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
According to the reporting party, Rob Kehrer a resident of the Mat-Su Borough, was thrown
out of his packraft and last seen by his rafting partner at 1:00 pm, Saturday,
August 9th.
Aerial an ground search efforts were carried out by Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and
Preserve personnel in cooperation with the Alaska Air National Guard, pilots
from Ultima Thule Lodge, and locally-hired ground searchers. This included
three fixed-wing aircraft, two helicopters and 8 ground search members, as well
a National Park Service incident command team.
At approximately 4:00 pm, the body of Mr. Kehrer was located by the Alaska Air
National Guard helicopter crew, approximately 2.5 miles downstream from the
location where he was last seen. The Tana River is extremely cold, swift and
known for large water and difficult rapids.Mr. Kehrer's
body was transported to Providence Hospital in Anchorage.
For more information please contac Chief Ranger Peter Christian at (907)-822-7210
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
