A Fort Yukon man who was last seen on a boat in the Yukon River last week was found alive early Wednesday more than 120 miles from where he departed, Alaska State Troopers said.
Robert Peter, 46, had been in Circle for a festival and left the village around 2 p.m. Friday in a 20-foot boat with his dog, troopers said. He was expected either in Fort Yukon or back in Circle by that evening, but did not make it to either destination and was reported overdue on Saturday, troopers spokesman Tim DeSpain said.
Fort Yukon is roughly 60 miles northwest of Circle.
Planes and boats were used to search the river in the days after Peter was reported overdue. Around 3 a.m. Wednesday, a local search team found Peter alive roughly five miles downriver from Beaver on the shore with his boat, troopers spokesman Austin McDaniel said. Peter’s dog was with him and also recovered, McDaniel said. Beaver is roughly 60 miles southwest of Fort Yukon.
The search and rescue crew brought Peter to a local clinic in Beaver for a medical assessment and he was medevaced to Fairbanks for further evaluation, McDaniel said. He did not have any serious injuries, according to McDaniel.
A separate search effort was still ongoing in the Chena River near Fairbanks on Wednesday. Elia Ansaknok, 42, was last seen in the water near downtown on Friday, troopers said.
Troopers, along with Fairbanks police, University Fire Department, Alaska State Parks, wildlife troopers, search and rescue dogs and village public safety officers have helped with search efforts, they said.