At approximately 6:30 pm on Friday, a call went in to the troopers from a woman frantic over a missing child. The woman told troopers that her child went missing from below the Seward Highway at Glacier Creek.

A Girdwood Trooper responded to the scene one minute later. The woman told the trooper that she left the five-year-old child next to the creek while she took another child to her vehicle and placed it in a child seat. When she returned, the child was no where to be seen.

Troopers, a State Park Officer, a U.S. Forest Service Officer, officers from the Anchorage Police Department and Girdwood Fire Department took up the search for the young child. Personnel continued combing the banks of the creek as a small watercraft was deployed to search the creek.

As an Alpine Air helicopter was en route to assist in the search, the child was found in the water near the shores of Turnagain Arm at about 7 pm. The helicopter was used to bring medical personnel and supplies to the scene and CPR was started immediately.

A LifeMed helicopter arrived at the scene at approximately 8 pm and the child was transported to Providence Alaska Medical Center for treatment of life-threatening injuries. The young boy died from his injuries at Providence on Sunday morning. Family said his organs will be donated.

The Seward Highway closed for a short period of time as the evacuation of the child was performed.

The young boy’s name was not released.

  Alaska, alpine air, child, glacier creek, medevac, search and rescue, seward highway, troopers