A search for Seldovia man, 68-year-old Robert Purpura, ended sadly on Monday evening after his remains were found floating near where his skiff was found an hour earlier.

At 6:05 pm,  Seldovia pilot, Keith Gain, reported to the Alaska State Troopers that he had been searching for Purpura, who was several hours overdue, when he had located Purpura’s skiff near McDonald’s Spit with its motor still running. Purpura had been on a trip to Jakalof Bay and had been due to return to Seldovia several hours earlier.

Immediately following the pilot’s report, the U.s> Coast Guard was notified and Anchor Point-based troopers responded to the scene aboard the P/V Augustine.  Several other vessels as well as an additional fixed-wing aircraft from Homer also took up the search.

One hour after the initial report, at 7:05 pm, the fixed wing aircraft spotted Purpura’s body floating in the water approximately one mile north of McDonald’s Spit. Search vessels responded to the area and recovered the remains and positively identified them as those of Purpura.

The State Medical Examiner’s office in Anchorage was contacted, and Purpura’s next of kin were notified.

No foul play was suspected in Purpura’s death.

  Coast Guard, jakalof bay, keith gain, missing, recovery, robert purpura, seldovia, skiff search, troopers