Man, 76, dies after boat capsizes near Lena Point
Nearby vessels rescue six other passengers aboard 22-foot craft
A 22-foot Hewescraft boat with seven passengers capsized near Lena Point at about noon Monday, trapping one man underneath.
"Everyone went into the water," said Sgt. Matt Dobson of the Alaska State Troopers.
Dobson identified the victim as Robert Earl Lehnhart, 76, of Lake Forest, Calif. Lehnhart was with family from Juneau and they were headed back to town from vacationing in the St. James Bay area. Rescuers attempted to revive him via CPR, but he was pronounced dead at Bartlett Regional Hospital, Dobson said.
The mayday call went out just before noon, and Good Samaritan vessels quickly retrieved the other six passengers. Lehnhart and the others were all wearing life jackets, Dobson said.
A small craft advisory was in effect in the area at the time. The National Weather Service forecast south winds at 25 knots and seas at 5 feet. Dobson said large waves came over the bow of the boat and spun it around so it was taking broadsides, which led to the capsizing.
The fishing vessel Loyal Lady was able to hook the bow of the boat and winch it out of the water, allowing members of the U.S. Coast Guard to recover the body.
Lehnhart's family in Juneau could not be reached for comment. They were transported to Auke Bay and were all able to walk away on their own.
• Contact Jeremy Hsieh at 523-2258 or jeremy.hsieh@juneauempire.com.