On August 27, 2005, a 59-year-old man from Fairbanks named Gary Horace Richardson was enjoying a day of fishing in the Valdez Narrows. He was aboard a 23-foot pleasure craft with his wife and another individual, moored near a landmark known as Middle Rock, situated between Potato Point and Sawmill Bay. At some point before 11 a.m., a seemingly routine task took a tragic turn. While attempting to untangle fishing lines from a net, Mr.
Richardson bent over the side of the boat and accidentally fell into the cold Alaskan water.
According to his wife, who witnessed the event, he went under the surface and did not come back up. It was reported that Mr. Richardson was not wearing a personal flotation device at the time of the incident, and tragically, he did not know how to swim. The last time he was seen, he was wearing jeans, a corduroy shirt, rubber boots, and glasses. His sudden disappearance prompted an immediate and urgent response.
The United States Coast Guard quickly launched a search and rescue operation, deploying a cutter, several small boats, and a Jayhawk helicopter to scour the area. Numerous 'Good Samaritan' vessels that were in the vicinity also joined the effort, demonstrating the tight-knit nature of the maritime community in the face of an emergency. For approximately four hours, crews searched the waters of the Valdez Narrows, hoping to find any sign of Mr. Richardson. Despite their extensive efforts, the search was ultimately suspended around 3:30 p.m. The case remains a painful memory of a recreational outing that ended in loss, and Mr. Richardson is presumed to have drowned. The Alaska State Troopers opened an investigation into his disappearance, which stands as a somber reminder of the unforgiving nature of the sea.Last Seen: Aug 27, 2005
