July 2, 2012
Two brothers from Cleveland, Ohio were on vacation with some friends in Alaska’s wilderness area. When they decided to go for a boat ride on June 23, 2012 the brothers both ended up drowning in a boating accident.
Steven and Jeffrey Kirkpatrick were two of four men on the boat that afternoon. When the boat had stopped, the men were all trying to get it to restart. One of the brothers fell overboard during the struggle to get the boat to start while the other dove in after his brother. Both men had drowned.
The other two men on the boat, Edwin Curtis and Rex Calfee were unsuccessful at saving the brothers, yet were able to retrieve both of their bodies out of the lake.
Drowning can happen anytime you are on a boat without a lifejacket or floatation device of some sort. Even if you’re an avid simmer, the cold Alaska waters can quickly slow your body down making it hard for you to swim. Should you ever come across an accident where someone you love had drowned due to negligence other than their own, call an Anchorage accident attorney. You may be able to seek compensation.