Iliamna man drowns after boat flips on Southwest Alaska river

A 36-year-old Iliamna man drowned last week when the boat he was on flipped in the Newhalen River, Alaska State Troopers said.

Dwight Anelon and a woman with him had loaded an ATV onto a small skiff to cross the river, but rough water caused the boat to capsize Friday about a half mile from the boat launch, troopers spokesman Tim DeSpain said Tuesday.

The river flows into Iliamna Lake on the lake’s north shore.

Bystanders pulled Anelon and the woman from the water and onto another boat before bringing them to shore, DeSpain said. Neither was wearing a life jacket, troopers said.

The woman made it safely to shore, troopers said. A village public safety officer who arrived at the scene said the bystanders were trying to resuscitate Anelon, according to troopers.

Anelon was brought to the local clinic, where he was pronounced dead, troopers said.