Body of missing swimmer found near cruise ship dock in Skagway

The body of a missing man who had been swimming near a docked cruise ship vessel in Skagway was found in the water Saturday, according to Alaska State Troopers.

The man, whom troopers identified as William Anthony Rodriguez, 32, from Miami, had last been seen in the water near the cruise ship dock around 2:10 p.m. Friday, troopers said in an online report.

According to troopers, Rodriguez had jumped into the water, swam to a nearby shore and stayed there a few minutes, then swam in front of the bow of the docked cruise ship.

“The individual began to struggle in the area along the bow and then sank in the water,” troopers wrote in the report.

His body was found Saturday when a search dog tracked a human scent while searching in the water near where the man was last seen, troopers said.

Troopers, the Skagway Police Department, the Skagway Fire Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, Southeast Alaska Dogs for Ground Search and divers from Juneau were all involved in the search, troopers said.

Next of kin have been notified.