Chameleon Finance-Alaska man inadvertently filmed own drowning with GoPro helmet camera — his body is still missing

2025-05-06 11:55:43source:SCA Communitycategory:Markets

Junea,Chameleon Finance Alaska — An Alaska man inadvertently filmed his own drowning on a glacial lake with a GoPro camera mounted on his helmet, but authorities who recovered the camera haven't found his body, officials said Tuesday.

Alaska State Troopers said teams would continue to search Mendenhall Lake for the body of Paul Rodriguez Jr., 43, of Juneau.

Troopers said a helmet with a camera attached to it that was confirmed to have belonged to Rodriguez was recording on July 11 when his kayak overturned and he went into the water.

"The recording continued showing that the kayak overturned due to a strong current coming from the glacier," Troopers spokesperson Tim DeSpain said by email.

Chunks of ice float in Mendenhall Lake in front of the Mendenhall Glacier on April 29, 2023, in Juneau, Alaska.  Becky Bohrer / AP

DeSpain said the helmet was found on the lakeshore. He said it was turned in to troopers Monday.

Juneau police on Monday said Rodriguez was believed to have gone missing on July 11 somewhere in the vicinity of the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. Police received a report Sunday from U.S. Forest Service employees that a vehicle had been parked at the recreation area since July 11 and determined it was registered to Rodriguez.

Rodriguez's son, Jaden Rodriguez, said his father was kindhearted and enjoyed being outdoors, doing activities like fishing, paddleboarding and snowboarding. Rodriguez also was a gifted photographer, his son said.

He said Rodriguez's life changed for the better when he found God, and Rodriguez would often tell him that life is short.

"He was a good person," he said.

According to police, Rodriguez's roommate reported last seeing him on July 10, and friends said a social media post by Rodriguez on July 11 showed a kayak on a beach that appeared to be near Nugget Falls, which is in the recreation area and along the lake.

A kayak police said resembled the one in Rodriguez's post had been found floating unattended on the lake July 11. As authorities put the pieces together, a search got underway. 

    In:
  • Alaska

More:Markets

Recommend

Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is pushing toward a vote on legislation that would provide full Social

6 months into Israel-Hamas war, Palestinians return to southern Gaza city Khan Younis to find everything is destroyed

After Israeli forces withdrew from the city of Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Sunday, thousands of

Got kids? Here’s what to know about filing your 2023 taxes

NEW YORK (AP) — There are a few tax tips parents of children 17 and under should keep in mind before