Inadvertently filming his own drowning in glacial water last week, an Alaskan kayaker, according to authorities who are still looking for his body.
Alaska State Troopers announced on Tuesday that Paul Rodriquez Jr., 43, drowned on July 11 while kayaking, the same day that his kayak was discovered abandoned on Mendenhall Lake close to Mendenhall Glacier.
Authorities discovered a helmet with a GoPro camera attached on Monday. It was later determined that the helmet belonged to Rodriguez.
The 43-year-old was found to have drowned after a review of the video, which revealed that “his kayak overturned, and he went into glacial water.”
According to reports, he was not outfitted in “appropriate protective clothing for glacial water sports” or a personal flotation device.
The kayak overturned “due to a strong current coming from the glacier,” according to the recording, said Troopers spokesperson Tim DeSpain.
On July 16, Rodriguez, a resident of Juneau, was first reported missing.
Alaska State Troopers had been called to Mendenhall Lake five days earlier on a report of an abandoned kayak with a dry bag attached.
No one was nearby at the time, and the kayak in the lake that was in trouble was also empty. The items were taken into custody by officials for “safekeeping,” according to a Daily Dispatch report.
Authorities went back to the area to conduct a search after Rodriguez was reported missing and it was discovered that his car was in the Mendenhall Visitors Center parking lot.
On Monday, a chopper searched from above while Alaska Wildlife Troopers, Juneau Mountain Rescue, and SEADOGS searched the lake and shoreline.
The helmet and Go-Pro camera were found during this search.
Authorities are still looking for Rodriguez’s body. Jaden Rodriguez, Rodriguez’s son, told the media that his father liked to go fishing, paddle boarding, and snowboarding outside.
He characterized his father as a good-natured man and a talented photographer.
“He was a good person,” Jaden told the publication, adding that his father frequently reminded him that life is fleeting.
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