The family of active-duty airman Christian Diaz pleaded for help finding him over the weekend after he went missing during a kayaking excursion on the Chena River.
FAIRBANKS, Alaska — A weekend search ended in heartache for the family of a Houston airman.
Christian Diaz, 24, was reported missing on Friday night, June 27, after his kayak overturned on the Chena River in Fairbanks, Alaska.
According to the Fairbanks Fire Department, Diaz was an active-duty U.S. servicemember stationed at the Kunsan Air Base in Korea. He was in Fairbanks for training at Eielson Air Base.
Friends told searchers that they spent Friday on the river and Diaz wasn’t wearing a life jacket when he disappeared in the water near the Pioneer Park boat launch.
His mother, Pam Cardenas, put out multiple pleas for help finding her son on Facebook over the weekend. She and her daughter flew to Fairbanks to join the multi-agency search.
Sadly, the FFD shared an update at 7 p.m. on Sunday that said Diaz’s body had been recovered.
“We are deeply grateful to everyone who assisted in the search and recovery efforts, including personnel from Fairbanks Fire Department, University Fire, Fairbanks Police Department, Village Public Safety Officers (VPSOs), service members from Eielson TAC-P and Eielson SERE, volunteers from PAWS Search & Rescue and Volunteers in Policing, divers from Hard Core Divers, and all others that helped in the search or assisted the family of Diaz,” the post read. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to Christian’s family, friends, and fellow airmen during this incredibly difficult time.”
They also reminded people that conditions on the Chena River can be dangerous even for strong swimmers so everyone should wear life jackets.