Alaska News

Search launched for boater missing in Knik Arm, second in 2 days

Update 9 a.m. Wednesday:

The search for missing kayaker Bruce Gronewald continued Wednesday morning with a U.S. Coast Guard first-light flight and assisting efforts on the ground from Alaska State Troopers, Coast Guard spokesperson Petty Officer Lauren Steenson said.

Steenson did not have any additional information.

Troopers spokesperson Megan Peters added that a trooper helicopter would take flight during search efforts today.

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Original story:

A search was launched Tuesday for a 55-year-old kayaker who did not return from a trip in Knik Arm near Anchorage, said the Coast Guard.

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Bruce Gronewald was last seen around 10 p.m. Monday aboard a yellow kayak. He wore a blue life jacket over a black jacket and traveled alone, said Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Kelly Parker.

It was the second emergency response involving a Knik Arm boater in two days. On Monday morning, a man requested urgent assistance as his boat was sinking in Knik Arm, the Anchorage Fire Department reported. He told emergency responders he had lost his life vest and had two dogs with him.

A Cessna Caravan airplane on floats, flown by a pilot for Rust's Flying Service, spotted the man, landed on the water and rescued all three.

Coast Guard Sector Anchorage got a report Tuesday morning from Gronewald's sister that he had not returned from the kayaking trip, Parker said.

The Coast Guard sent an urgent broadcast to mariners, Parker said. By Tuesday evening, a Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak helicopter and Civil Air Patrol crews had completed four air searches of the area and Alaska State Troopers completed ground searches, Parker said.

Around 9:30 p.m., Parker said that the search of Knik Arm near Anchorage was continuing. The Coast Guard asked anyone with information on Gronewald's whereabouts to call Sector Anchorage at 907-428-4100.

Parker did not immediately have additional information Tuesday on where Gronewald's left from Monday night and where he was headed.

Correction: The initial report from the U.S. Coast Guard included an incorrect spelling of Bruce Gronewald's name. This story has been updated to reflect the correct spelling.

Tegan Hanlon

Tegan Hanlon was a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News between 2013 and 2019. She now reports for Alaska Public Media.

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