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Search continues for Colorado man who went missing after boating accident in Alaska

Posted at 12:57 PM, Aug 10, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-10 14:57:54-04

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The search continues for a Colorado man who went missing after a boating accident in Alaska last week.

Alaska Dispatch News reports relatives of Phillip Keltner, 63, flew to Alaska this week to assist in the search.

Keltner was one of four people ejected from a boat on the Kenai River Friday night. Officials told the Associated Press that a steering problem may have led to the boating accident.

Keltner’s daughter, Missy Keltner, told Alaska Dispatch News that her father split his time between Colorado and Alaska and knew the knows the Kenai River well.

“We don’t know if he’s still in the water or if he made it to shore or got disoriented or collapsed somewhere,” Missy Keltner said, “But we’re at a loss and not giving up hope and we’re doing our best.”

State troopers stopped helping with the search over the weekend, citing the circumstances surrounding Keltner’s disappearance, Alaska Dispatch News reports.

The 82-mile Kenai River is Alaska’s most heavily-fished river, according to state wildlife officials.