Man dead, brother missing after canoe capsizes

Published: July 6, 2012 

A man died and his brother is missing after their canoe overturned Friday in Matanuska Lake, according to Alaska State Troopers spokeswoman Beth Ipsen.

A family on the lake discovered the body of a man -- later identified as Michael Francis, 70, of Pocatello Idaho -- under an overturned canoe just after 10 a.m., Ipsen said. The canoe had a second occupant, Randy Francis, 55, of Palmer. Several dive teams spent Friday looking for him. The men were brothers, Ipsen said.

They men rented a 16-foot red canoe around 9 a.m. from Lifetime Adventures, a contractor that operates the campground and a canoe-rental at the state recreation area.

A family member who discovered the canoe and a canoe rental employee retrieved the body from the lake, Ipsen said. Michael Francis had his arm looped through a life jacket. Another life jacket washed up on shore, she said.

Life jackets are mandatory for all canoe renters, according to Dan McDonough, owner of Lifetime Adventures.

The lake is part of the Matanuska Lakes State Recreation area off the Glenn Highway.

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