A 13-year-old girl who was reported missing in Port Protection on Sunday has been found alive and unharmed, according to Alaska State Troopers and the Coast Guard.
Coast Guard Lt. Ryan Erickson of Sector Juneau said in a phone interview he just received news at about noon on Tuesday that Makayla McRoberts was found sometime this morning.
Troopers confirmed that in an updated dispatch online, which said McRoberts was found by ground searchers at about 12:02 p.m.
“She appeared fine,” Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said by phone.
Peters said the girl was to be airlifted out of the search area and evaluated by medics to determine if any medical treatment was necessary.
Troopers launched a search for the teenager, who they said was new to Alaska, at about 7:30 a.m. Monday morning when she had not returned from a hike on a trail near the boardwalk at the end of Port Protection Road.
She was supposed to return from her hike by 5 p.m. Sunday, and she was reported missing to the troopers in Ketchikan at about 9:30 p.m. that night, troopers said in a dispatch.
She did not take anything with her, and was last seen wearing a hooded sweatshirt and tennis shoes, troopers said.
The Coast Guard assisted in the search and rescue mission by sending a helicopter to search by air, while volunteer rescue squads, the Sitka Mountain Rescue team and Port Protection citizens searched on the ground.
Air Station Sitka sent an MH-60 Jayhawk Helicopter to help transport the mountain rescue team personnel and the dogs to the area. The Coast Guard also sent a Blackhawk based out of Juneau to assist.
Troopers said local Klawock air assets were originally unable to fly due to poor weather conditions, and that vehicle access roads were impassable due to heavy snow pack.
• Contact reporter Emily Russo Miller at 523-2263 or at emily.miller@juneauempire.com.
Comments (6)
Add commentPTL
So happy for everyone that she was found alive. Hope all is well.
Thank You!
To those that searched for this young lady! So glad to hear this story had a happy ending!
Happy Endings
Love a happy ending like this. "new to Alaska" probably explains a lot, i.e., lost the trail, expected to be back by dark, didn't pack any "just in case" items like extra clothes, food, makeshift tent, etc. A BIG thanks to the searchers - you're the best!
It is amazing the resources
It is amazing the resources that SE AK can pull together in such a short time , under bad weather conditions and distances between communities.
Thanks to all those searchers that put their lives on hold while they look for lost people.
The areas around Port Protection is Karst, full of sink holes, fissures, and rugged terrain, you would not have to be inexperienced to get lost their. A great effort from our search and rescue community and the citizens of Port Protection who spent hours in the brush under difficult conditions to make a happy ending
a happy lesson.....
to everyone. Thank goodness this young lady is ok. I'm sure she learned a valuable (and chilly) lesson -
It only takes a minute and a very small backpack or fanny pack to dress and prepare. Even on a small day hike, wear layered clothing, and good shoes. Pack water, a couple of power bars, a space blanket (which folds up very small) a small flashlight, extra socks, small first aid kit, fire starter kit.
Being prepared for small emergencies takes 5 minutes and weighs less than 5lbs.
tired but happy
I flew from Seattle to Juneau last night, with a stop in Ketchikan, and watched searchers and rescue dogs board the airplane in Ketchikan looking tired but happy. Reading this article, now I know why. I am very grateful to those who not only put their lives on hold but put themselves at personal risk to save the lives of others, and for the dogs that are trained to assist. Three cheers!