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ANCHORAGE, Alaska— The U.S. Coast Guard suspended a multi-day search and rescue effort for a missing paddleboarder in Turnagain Arm over the weekend.
The body of the paddleboarder, identified as Joshua Novakovich, was recovered by local authorities on the evening of Sunday, June 21.
Watch standers at the Coast Guard Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic Command Center received a notification from the Anchorage Fire Department dispatch regarding a paddleboarder who had separated from a group and was unable to return to shore, at 10:41 p.m., June19. The initial report was made via a 911 call to local dispatch earlier that night.
Upon notification, the Coast Guard issued an urgent marine information broadcast to advise mariners of the situation. Personnel from the Girdwood Fire Department initially maintained visual contact with Novakovich using binoculars, but severe tidal mud flats hindered their attempts to launch a rescue boat.
Coast Guard Sector Western Alaska & U.S. Arctic assumed search and rescue mission coordinator at approximately 11:00 p.m. and directed the launch of an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak. At 11:13 p.m., the Girdwood Fire Department reported that they successfully launched a small boat, but the vessel began taking on water and was forced to turn back. By 11:35 p.m., local responders reported they had lost visual contact with Novakovich.
Coast Guard watch standers immediately initiated predictive drift simulations based on his last known position. The drift patterns were shared with the Girdwood Fire Department and a good Samaritan civilian aircraft conducted air searches from 11:55 p.m. to 1:26 a.m. A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk crew arrived on scene at 1:45 a.m., received the drift patterns and began searching.
At approximately 2:30 a.m., the Coast Guard aircrew located Novakovich’s paddleboard and initiated focused search patterns in the area with negative results.
Multiple Coast Guard aircrews conducted nighttime, first-light, and daylight searches throughout Turnagain Arm, covering 137 square miles and 53 miles of shoreline. The Coast Guard suspended its search operations on the afternoon of Saturday, June 20. At this point the case was passed to the Alaska State Troopers for recovery operations. The Coast Guard continued to run drift predictions to assist partner agencies until Novakovich was recovered on Sunday evening.
“We want to extend our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Joshua Novakovich,” said Capt. Joel Carse, Sector Commander Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic.“ Alaskan waters are a dangerous place to recreate. We hope that as we as a community remember Joshua, we also recognize the unique dangers that come with Alaska’s waters.”
The Coast Guard extends its appreciation to the partner agencies, good Samaritans, and volunteer searchers who assisted throughout this operation.
| Date Taken: | 06.24.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 06.24.2026 22:58 |
| Story ID: | 568523 |
| Location: | ANCHORAGE, ALASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 105 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
