At approximately 10:02 am on Saturday a report went in to the Alaska State Troopers alerting them that there was a sunken boat on the Klutina River with four men in the water upstream from Copper Center.

According to the trooper report, four soldiers from Fort Wainwright and the son of one of the soldiers were fishing on the river in a jetboat owned by Fort Wainwright Outdoor Recreation. During their fishing trip, the jetboat suffered mechanical problems and was swept into a submerged rock in the swift current. The boat overturned, spilling all of the occupants into the river.

The vessel operator 39-year-old Columbus Jones Jr and his 11-year-old son Columbus Jones III were able to cling to the overturned boat for a short time before being swept into the current. A raft operator nearby was able to rescue Jones III and pulled him into the raft and safety. Jones Jr was able to make it to shore and was retrieved and transported to the Klutina boat launch by another local fishing guide.

The two other soldiers in the water, 23-year-old George Brady and 23-year-old Christopher Covington were swept downstream in the current. George Brady was able to make it to the riverbank and was also picked up by the same guide that retrieved Jones Jr.

Covington did not fair as well, he was swept downstream where he was retrieved by the operator of a private jetboat. When pulled from the water, Covington was not breathing and CPR was administered to him. The CPR was unsuccessful. Covington was transported to the Klutina boat launch where Copper River EMS personnel were waiting.

Covington was transported to the Cross Roads Medical Center where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

Next of kin were notified by military personnel.

The State Medical Examiner’s office in Anchorage was notified of Covington’s death and has requested his remains for autopsy.

Arraignments were made for the retrieval of the jetboat from the river.