Latest news with #SkyeRench
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Body Found After Monthslong Search for Man Who Fell Through Ice When ATV Plunged into River
The body of a man who went missing has been found two months after he first disappeared after sinking below the ice on a river in Alaska On Friday, May 23, Alaska State Troopers identified the body of 32-year-old Skye Rench, who was riding in an ATV with four other men when the vehicle fell into the Susitna River Three of the men were able to escape the water and survive, but Rench and Sean Kendall, whose body is still missing, were carried under by a current in the riverThe body of a man who fell through the ice on Alaska's Susitna River in early March has been found, according to authorities. The Alaska State Troopers shared in a Friday, May 23, release that the body of Skye Rench had been located by a private pilot near the mouth of the river on Thursday, May 22. The Alaska Department of Public Safety sent a helicopter to the area, where a rescue team member helped recover Rench's body and bring it to the Wasilla Airport. Rench was identified after his body was transported to the State Medical Examiner's Office for autopsy and identification. The 32-year-old resident of Wasilla, Alaska, first went missing on March 6 with Sean Kendall, who has still yet to be found. "Search teams are working to determine if there are any other areas that should be searched with last week's discovery of Rench," Austin McDaniel, communications director for the Alaska Department of Public Safety, told PEOPLE in regards to the ongoing search for Kendall. The two men had been traveling in a side-by-side ATV with three other adults when the vehicle "broke through the ice" on the river the morning of Thursday, March 6, according to Alaska State Troopers. Rench and Kendall, a 42-year-old Anchorage, Alaska, resident, were carried under the ice by the river's current, while the other three passengers escaped from the water and survived. At the time of the incident, they were traveling in a six-seat Polaris Ranger utility vehicle as part of a five-man crew, according to the Anchorage Daily News, which reported that they had been traveling to Point Mackenzie when the ATV sank under the ice. Rech was engaged to be married at the time of his death, according to a GoFundMe created after he went missing in March. An obituary from Rench's family posted to the GoFundMe says he "was truly blessed when he found the love of his life, Heidi. These two were the epitome of love, truly in sync with one another." The obituary also described Rench as "a devoted protector of those he loved" and "an Alaskan to the core" who "loved to hunt, ride snowmachines and love the outdoors." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Rench was born on Nov. 6, 1992, and graduated from Colony High School in 2011, after which he became an apprentice powerline man, then a foreman. He eventually opened the company Helacomm Communications, according to his obituary. "Skye liked to come across as a tough individual, which he was, but he also had a very tender, warm heart. When you received a hug from Skye, it was the most genuine and meaningful tight embrace," Rench's obituary read. "Skye was a very honest person and had a lot of respect for others." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Pilot finds body of one of 2 men lost in Susitna River, troopers say
May 23—The body of one of two men who were swept into the Susitna River when their side-by-side broke through the ice in early March during a work assignment was found this week, according to Alaska State Troopers. The State Medical Examiner Office on Friday identified the body as 32-year-old Wasilla resident Skye Rench, troopers said in an online update. A private pilot contacted troopers Thursday after finding the deceased individual near the mouth of the Susitna River, troopers said. A Department of Public Safety helicopter and a member of the Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team responded Thursday and recovered the body, troopers said. Rench and 42-year-old Anchorage resident Sean Kendall were part of a five-man crew traveling from a remote job site to Point MacKenzie on March 6 when their six-seat Polaris Ranger utility vehicle broke through the ice at the confluence of Fish Creek and the Susitna River. Rench and Kendall were swept under. The three others were able to walk back to a work camp. Ice on the river complicated efforts by troopers, the nonprofit dive team and family as they searched for the men in the following days and weeks. An update on the search for Kendall was not immediately available from troopers Friday. The men were working for Palmer-based Alaska Directional LLC, related to a Matanuska Telecom Association project installing an underground fiber-optic cable to bring high-speed internet to Beluga and Tyonek, according to a state permit. The incident spurred an investigation by the Alaska Occupational Safety and Health section and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Rench was born and raised in the Mat-Su and was a 2011 Colony High School graduate, according to an obituary posted as part of a GoFundMe for his family. Rench, with partner Kevin Niemi, also ran the Iron Dog snowmachine race for the first time earlier this year. [Previously: Company involved in fatal Susitna River incident reported near miss a few weeks later]
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Yahoo
2 presumed dead in Alaska after ATV plunges through ice on river
MAT-SU VALLEY, Alaska – Two people are presumed dead following an ATV crash through the ice on the Susitna River in Alaska, according to troopers. With intensive search efforts over two days proving unsuccessful, Alaska State Troopers moved to a reactive search strategy Saturday, responding only to new leads and sightings. The incident unfolded Thursday morning when a side-by-side ATV carrying five adults broke through the unstable ice on the river, troopers said. Three individuals managed to escape the frigid waters, but two others were swept under the ice by the strong current. How To Watch Frox Weather Troopers immediately launched a search and rescue operation. The search area spanned from the last known location of the ATV downstream to the mouth of the river. The Civil Air Patrol also joined the effort, deploying aircraft to aid in the aerial search. The three survivors, who managed to reach a nearby work camp, were later transported by chartered helicopter. They declined medical assistance. The missing individuals have been identified as Sean Kendall, 42, of Anchorage, and Skye Rench, 32, of article source: 2 presumed dead in Alaska after ATV plunges through ice on river
