Haines man dies after jet boat capsizes on Chilkat River

An 83-year-old man died last week after the boat he was on capsized on the Chilkat River near Haines, Alaska State Troopers said.

The jet boat lost power Thursday with two men aboard and was pushed into woody debris and became stuck, said troopers spokesman Justin Freeman. One of the men swam to shore, and Ronald Martin spent the night on the boat, Freeman said.

“The next morning, the water level rose and pushed the boat from the sweeper and Martin went into the water at that time,” Freeman wrote in an email.

Troopers were notified by an SOS activation on a wireless device just after 6:30 p.m. Friday that the jet boat capsized less than 50 feet from the riverbank, Freeman said. The man who swam to shore was picked up by friends, but Martin was missing, troopers said.

The U.S. Coast Guard responded and searched by air Friday night and early Saturday, Freeman said. Alaska Wildlife Troopers and volunteers in three boats began searching for Martin around 6 a.m. Saturday. His body was found about 90 minutes later, troopers said.

The two men had been preparing for the moose hunting season opener on Sunday, Freeman said.