JUNEAU, Alaska — An Alaska man inadvertently filmed his own drowning in a glacial lake with a GoPro camera mounted to his helmet, but authorities who recovered the camera have yet to find his body, authorities said Tuesday.
Alaska State Police said crews would continue to search Mendenhall Lake for the body of Paul Rodriguez Jr., 43, of Juneau.
Cops said a helmet with an attached camera confirmed to belong to Rodriguez was recording July 11 when his kayak capsized and he fell into the water.
“Recording continued to show the kayak capsized due to a strong current coming from the glacier,” Troopers spokesman Tim DeSpain said by email.
DeSpain said the helmet was found on the lake shore. He said it was handed over to soldiers on Monday.
Juneau police said Monday that Rodriguez is believed to have disappeared on July 11 somewhere near the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. Police received a report Sunday from US Forest Service employees that a vehicle had been parked in the recreation area since July 11 and determined it was registered to Rodriguez.
Rodriguez’s son, Jaden Rodriguez, said his father was kind-hearted and enjoyed being outdoors, doing activities like fishing, rowing and snowboarding. Rodríguez was also a talented photographer, his son said.
He said that Rodríguez’s life changed for the better when he found God, and Rodríguez often told him that life is short.
“He was a good person,” he said.
According to police, Rodriguez’s roommate reported last seeing him on July 10, and friends said a social media post by Rodriguez on July 11 showed a kayak on a beach that appeared to be near the Nugget. Falls, which is located in the recreation area and along the lake. .
On July 11, a kayak was found floating unattended in the lake that police said resembled the one in Rodriguez’s post. As authorities put the pieces together, a search was launched.
