Man trapped in frigid river calls for help before ‘selfless' rescue, AK cops say
A state trooper rescued a 'severely hypothermic' man who was stuck in a frigid Alaska river by getting in the water himself and holding the man up for roughly 30 minutes until more help arrived, officials said.
Trooper Nathan Hollenbeck responded early May 29 after a woman reported hearing a man calling out for help from the Tanana River in Nenana, troopers said in a dispatch report.
The man, Jonathan Pitka, 37, from Fairbanks, was by a roughly 15-foot sea wall, troopers said.
Troopers didn't say how he came to be in the water.
Hollenbeck tried to pull Pitka out using a tow strap attached to his vehicle, troopers said, but Pitka couldn't hold onto it.
So Hollenbeck 'stripped his duty gear off' and repelled to Pitka, keeping him afloat until rescuers arrived by boat, troopers said.
Both men were taken to a hospital and received care for hypothermia, troopers said.
Hollenbeck later told KTUU that the cold water took a toll on him.
'While I was in the water, I was losing dexterity, I was losing strength, and at times I lost my grip on Mr. Pitka, I lost my grip on the seawall and I had to rely on that harness that I made to keep me afloat to regain my strength [and] to keep Mr. Pitka's head above the water,' he said, according to the outlet.
In a May 30 Facebook post, state troopers described what Hollenbeck did as a 'selfless act.'
Commenters seemed to agree.
'Trooper Hollenbeck is a hero! Risked his own life for another without hesitation,' one wrote.
'Hero move right there!' wrote another.
Nenana is about 55 miles southwest from Fairbanks.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
22 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Rescuers Have Message for Owner Who Dumped Sick Dog: 'In a Lot of Pain'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. After saving a skinny, urine-stained dog from the streets, the Animal Rescue League of NH (New Hampshire) shared a heartfelt message for the people who abandoned her, hoping to inspire others in a similar position to reconsider their actions. "We want you to know that your little girl was found and is safe," writes the rescue in a Facebook post shared on Sunday, captioned "A Letter to 'Rae's' Previous Owners," which has received over 1,000 likes and 109 comments on the platform. "We are sure that it was frustrating watching her constantly pee and bleed in your home. We are sure she damaged floors and rugs, and it was a lot to clean up. She didn't want to be a disappointment in that way. We are sure she loved you, she seems to love everyone. She was in a lot of pain," the post continues. Naomi Stevens, chief operating officer of the Animal Rescue League of NH in Bedford, New Hampshire, told Newsweek that on May 20, they arrived at the shelter to find that the police had dropped off a small stray dog in the overnight kennels, which are accessible only to police departments. "I knew immediately that something was off. She was really skinny, covered in urine staining, and straining to urinate, and it was small amounts that were dark and bloody," Stevens said. "We checked lost reports and scoured the lost and found Facebook groups and the police compared her description to any licensed dogs in the town. But to no avail. It was clear someone wasn't looking for her. They either abandoned her or she got out and they just thought it was easier to let someone else deal with her situation." After getting the Shih Tzu an X-ray, they found a giant bladder stone filling the entirety of the organ, which had possibly been growing for months, and could have killed Rae had she spent more time outside with no medical help. "We are fortunate to have our shelter veterinarian, Dr. Stephanie Magnarelli, who was able to operate to successfully remove the stone as well as spay her and bring all of her vaccines current. She is recovering beautifully from her surgery. She was always a sweet little girl, but now her big, bubbly personality is shining through," Stevens said. Pictures shared by the shelter show Rae with shaved fur after her surgery (L) and wearing a sweater to keep her warm. Pictures shared by the shelter show Rae with shaved fur after her surgery (L) and wearing a sweater to keep her warm. Animal Rescue League of NH Not only has Rae been given a new lease on life, but she may have already found a new loving family as well. "Her finder who called the police to bring her to us expressed interest in adopting her, and is coming this week to meet her and hopefully finalize an adoption," Stevens said. While they have a strong suspicion of where Rae came from, the shelter's message to the people who abandoned her is one of empathy and support. "Very sad that they went this route, but we wanted to reach them in a nonjudgmental way and speak to not only them but to others who might find themselves with a pet with a medical condition they can't manage or afford," Stevens said. "We have programs to help. We want to put the welfare of the animals first, but we can't support the animals without helping the people who love them as well. Casting harsh judgment and/or criticism will only make people less comfortable coming to us when they do need our help, potentially resulting in more 'Raes.'" Each year, 5.8 million pets enter U.S. shelters, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The length of time dogs, especially large dogs, spend in shelters before being adopted has increased over the last five years. Around 607,000 surrendered animals are euthanized every year. Shelters are striving to minimize euthanasia rates by promoting adoption campaigns, spaying and neutering programs, and behavior rehabilitation. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Residents warned about the appearance of counterfeit bills
MERCER COUNTY, WV (WVNS) — Members of the community were advised to stay alert due to the appearance of counterfeit bills in the region. According to a post on the Chamber of Commerce of the Two Virginias' Facebook page, counterfeit $100 bills are being seen in the area. Virginia DMV warns customers about a text scam The post stated that the bills appear real, even when marked with a counterfeit detection pen, but the bills are fake. The Chamber of Commerce of the Two Virginias Facebook post stated that four stores were affected by the counterfeit money in Mercer County. According to the post, people and businesses are encouraged to be alert and keep an eye out when dealing with cash transactions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
New Castle man sentenced for conspiring to traffic opioids
A New Castle man was sentenced Wednesday for conspiring to traffic opioids. Per the Department of Justice, a judge sentenced Kailin Stewart, 38, to 70 months in prison followed by four months of supervised release. Stewart previously pled guilty to conspiring to distribute at least 40 grams of fentanyl and 10 grams of a fentanyl analogue between May 2021 and October 2022. The federal court heard that Stewart was on state parole for a conviction for conspiracy to commit homicide when he trafficked between 70 and 100 grams of a fentanyl and fluorofentanyl mixture in 2022. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
