Paddleboarder Search Suspended
Coast Guard Suspends Search for Young Man Missing While Paddleboarding Alaska's Turnagain Arm
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A young man vanished in Alaska's Turnagain Arm while paddleboarding, and the U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search after more than 24 hours of intensive operations. The case has now been handed to the Department of Energy as a missing persons investigation — an unusual move that has raised questions about who the man was and why he was on the water. KCTV5 reported the search ran through the night before rescuers called off active efforts.
Turnagain Arm is one of the most dangerous waterways in North America. Its tidal range reaches up to 40 feet, and its famous "bore tide" — a wall of water rushing upstream — can move at 10 to 15 mph. Those conditions made the search extraordinarily difficult from the start.
Overnight Search Covered 200 Square Miles of Dangerous Water
The man was last seen near the Bird Point area, a popular but hazardous spot known for its dramatic tides. The Coast Guard launched MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters and surface vessels as soon as he was reported missing Friday evening, according to KOLOTV. The Girdwood Fire Department and Alaska State Troopers joined the effort, conducting shoreline sweeps throughout the night.
By Saturday, the Alaska Dive Search, Rescue and Recovery Team was deployed to scan underwater areas near the last known location. After covering roughly 200 square nautical miles over a 24-hour window, the Coast Guard suspended the active search Saturday evening. A spokesperson called it "one of the most difficult calls to make," citing the "extreme environmental factors" of the Arm.
Turnagain Arm's Mudflats and Bore Tides Create a Deadly Trap
The Turnagain Arm is no ordinary waterway. Its mudflats are made of glacial silt that can act like quicksand, trapping anyone who wades in as the tide rises. The bore tide — a rapid surge of seawater — can appear with little warning and is impossible for a swimmer or paddleboarder to outrun, according to WABI TV.
The area has a long history of water fatalities. A 1988 death in the Arm prompted many of the rescue protocols still in use today. Local safety experts have long criticized the lack of mandatory life jacket rules for paddleboarders in tidal zones this extreme. "The Arm is not a lake," one Anchorage-based wilderness instructor said. "It is a machine that eats people who don't respect the tide tables."
Department of Energy Takes Over in an Unusual Move
When the active search ended, the case did not go to Alaska State Troopers or local police. Instead, it was handed to the U.S. Department of Energy, according to Fox5 Vegas. The DOE runs an Arctic Energy Office in Anchorage that studies tidal power and sediment movement in Turnagain Arm — one of the only places in the U.S. being studied for large-scale tidal energy generation.
The DOE rarely leads missing persons investigations. That has led observers to question whether the man was a DOE researcher, staffer, or contractor who was on the water for work rather than recreation. The agency has not confirmed the man's identity or his connection to any project. Alaska State Troopers have deferred all questions to federal authorities, according to KLTV.
Search Team May Return as Case Stays Open
While the Coast Guard has stood down, the Alaska Dive Search and Recovery Team often continues periodic sweeps of an area weeks after an incident. Those sweeps depend on tidal cycles and weather conditions. The team was still active in the Arm as of the latest reports, according to WMBF News.
The DOE's involvement could also affect the future of tidal energy research in the area. The agency recently awarded $26 million to tribal energy programs in Alaska. If the man's disappearance is tied to a DOE project, safety protocols for field researchers could face intense review — and funding for tidal energy pilots in the Arm could be delayed, according to KCBD.
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