Air Station Sitka rescues lost Juneau hunter

A Juneau hunter is safe after being rescued by an Air Station Sitka helicopter on Friday evening (11-25-16).

35-year-old Kyle Paddleford was scheduled to rendezvous with the other members of his hunting party at 1:30 in the afternoon on Friday, in Oliver Inlet on Admiralty Island.

According to state troopers, when Paddleford failed to appear, his partners searched the shoreline for him until 4 PM, and then notified the Coast Guard via radio that he was overdue. They left supplies for him at the rendezvous point and returned to Douglas.

Air Station Sitka launched a helicopter to search for Paddleford that evening. However, at about 7:20 p.m. Paddleford reached an area with cell service, and called 9-1-1. He informed dispatch that he was uninjured, and had gotten lost returning from hunting. His location was relayed to the helicopter crew en route, who located him in Green Cove.

Paddleford was safely brought aboard and transported to the Juneau airport.