On July 1, 2023, at 5:37PM, the Alaska State Troopers were notified of a possible drowning on Harding Lake. Wildlife Troopers on a boating patrol in the area responded to the scene. A preliminary investigation revealed that the adult victim was operating a personal watercraft (V2) and became entangled/strangled with a vessel's (V3) tow line while pulling a water skier. 

This was confirmed by the operator of V3. The wakeboarder had fallen off their board, dropping the tow line, which then became wrapped around the victim's neck. 

It is believed that as the victim was steering their PWC in a perpendicular direction behind V3 (in order to jump off the wake), the tow line wrapped around their neck and caused severe injury when it was pulled tight by V2 and V3 moving in different directions. 

The operator of V3 felt the tow line jerk and looked back to see the victim face-down in the water. The operator then turned around to help the victim out of the water, when they noticed the victim was unresponsive. After removing the victim from the water, the operator of V3 (a trained EMT), as well as another off-duty EMT, provided immediate life-saving efforts until EMS arrived and transported the victim to a Fairbanks area hospital. The victim was declared deceased at the hospital. Alcohol and drugs do NOT appear to be a factor.

A State Trooper that responded to the scene noted that the victim had been wearing the appropriate attire for operating a PWC, including a PFD with a PWC kill switch attached.

Harding Lake
Salcha                        