Douglas Pearcy, 05-26-08

Man drowns after flipping his canoe

Anchorage Daily News, Published: May 28th, 2008

KENAI -- A Kenai man drowned Monday evening after his canoe flipped in a small lake on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska State Troopers said Tuesday.

Douglas Pearcy, 40, and another man were canoeing on Spirit Lake off Strawberry Road between Kenai and Soldotna, trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters said. The lake is identified on maps as Elephant Lake.

The other man, whose name Peters did not have, later told troopers that the canoe hit something, perhaps a rock, and capsized, spilling both men into the water.

"One person made it to shore. The other did not," Peters said.

Troopers got a call for help just before 7:30 p.m. Monday. About two hours later, a diver from Central Emergency Services found and recovered Pearcy's body, Peters said.

Troopers don't suspect foul play. They are waiting for a toxicology report.

Pearcy wasn't wearing a life jacket, she said.