Missing Alaska man filmed own drowning near Mendenhall Lake

Police searching for a still-missing Alaska kayaker found his GoPro helmet camera that inadvertently captured his own drowning.

Paul Rodriguez Jr., 43, had been reported missing late Sunday, five days after his kayak was found abandoned on Mendenhall Lake near Mendenhall Glacier.

Alaska State Troopers and local Juneau police used helicopters and specially trained sea dogs in a huge search of the area — but it was a passing “good Samaritan” who found the missing man’s camera-fitted helmet on the lakeshore Monday, officials said.

“A review of the video determined Rodriguez had drown on July 11 when his kayak overturned, and he went into the glacial water,” a daily dispatch noted of the day the small craft was found.

“The recording continued showing that the kayak overturned due to a strong current coming from the glacier,” Troopers spokesperson Tim DeSpain also said of the footage found Monday.

It also showed he was not wearing a life jacket “or appropriate protective clothing for glacial water sports,” troopers said.

Officers notified Rodriguez’s family that he had been declared dead based on the footage, troopers said.

“Teams will continue to search the lake to recover the body,” the force said.

Rodriguez was a keen adventurer who regularly posted pics from the lake, including some with his GoPro-fitted helmet.

His final Facebook post showed a kayak with the caption “Headed up to the glacier!”

Rodriguez’s son, Jaden Rodriguez, said his father was kindhearted and enjoyed taking photographs of his outdoor adventures, which also included fishing, paddleboarding and snowboarding.

“He was a good person,” he said.

With Post wires