Darold Ray Clark, 07-10-06
23-year-old man drowns attempting to retrieve ball in cold river water
Published: July 12, 2006
BUCKLAND -- Buckland resident Darold Ray Clark, 23, drowned in the Buckland River
on Monday, Alaska State Troopers said.
Witnesses said Clark was swimming to retrieve a ball in a deep part of the river
when he sank into the cold water. He surfaced briefly, yelling for help before disappearing,
according to a troopers news release.
Buckland residents in about 15 boats searched the river, finally pulling Clark's
body out of the water about 9:30 p.m., the release said. Clark was pronounced dead
at the local clinic 30 minutes later.
Buckland, population 434, is about 75 miles southeast of Kotzebue.
Troopers are calling the death accidental.
-- Anchorage Daily News