WASILLA, Alaska (KTUU) -- It was a deadly weekend of snowmachining
two Wasilla residents said they'll never forget.
On
Sunday, Dillinger Koeckritz and Jon Duft were riding with friends in the
backcountry off Yoder Road when they found the body of another rider,
ultimately assuming responsibility to help in the recovery.
“I've
never witnessed something like this before,” said Koeckritz.
According
to Koeckritz, during the Sunday afternoon ride, his group happened to be near two
other snowmachiners riding in the same area. Visibility was reduced from the
fog, so Koeckritz said his team invited the other two to ride nearby.
Koeckritz
said, at one point his snowmachine got stuck, and the group spent about 45
minutes trying to break his snowmachine loose. When it was freed, one of the
snowmachiners in the pair joining the group realized his riding partner was
missing.
“I
said let's all stick together. Let's find your friend,” said Duft.
Near
a snow berm, Duft said they found Jacob Harris, 19, trapped underneath his
sled. He was not breathing.
“Jon started taking off his helmet off and jacket off and started CPR,
while Jason called 911 and handed me the phone,” said Koeckritz.
Duft
said he took a CPR training class, but this was the first time he had to use it
in a real emergency.
“[It
was] something that I [would] never think I had to do, and I hope nobody ever
has to do it,” said Duft. “But we had to do what I had to do.”
Poor
weather conditions reported down to 100 feet visibility prevented State
Troopers and emergency Mat Su rescuers from launching a helicopter to the
scene.
“I
knew from the get-go life support was not going to fly up,” said Koeckritz.
“They can't fly in visibility that bad.”
Koeckritz
said after discussing their options, the group loaded the victim onto their
sled and attempted to transport him back to the trailhead. During the incident,
Koeckritz said the victim’s riding partner called a family member for help.
That’s
when State Troopers report, “A private helicopter responded to the scene with a
family member of the deceased on board to assist with recovering Harris.”
Koeckritz,
Duft and the rest of the group rode their snowmachines back to the trailhead to
give statements to authorities.
“It's
a horrible situation, and you never want to see it especially with a kid this
young, but in this activity there’s dangers,” said Koeckritz.
Koeckritz
and Duft expressed their condolences to the family, and said hopefully the
tragedy serves as a warning to other young riders to never leave the sight of
riding partners and always ride with three or more people in the backcountry in
case of an emergency.
“I
just want to press the caution on to everyone to stay safe,” said Duft. “It's
all fun and games, it's always a really good time, but you always have to keep
those precautions in your mind at all times.”
Harris
was transported to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy.