Body of Missing Cruise Passenger Discovered After Solo Hike in Alaska
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The body of 62-year-old Marites Buenafe, a cruise ship passenger who went missing during a solo hike in Alaska, has been found near Gold Ridge in Juneau. Buenafe was reported missing on Tuesday, July 1, after she failed to return to her cruise ship, the Norwegian Bliss. The discovery was made by an Alaska National Guard helicopter crew on Thursday, July 3, two days after she was reported missing.
Authorities confirmed that Buenafe had informed her family that she planned to hike from Gold Ridge to Gastineau Peak after going up Mount Roberts Tramway in Juneau. Despite efforts to locate her, she did not make it back to the cruise ship before its departure time of 1:30 p.m. The Juneau Police Department revealed that Buenafe was travelling alone on the trip.
Security cameras captured Buenafe at the top of Mount Roberts Tramway before she set out on her hike. She was last seen leaving the buildings around the time she sent a text to her family. Following a two-day search, her body was found approximately 1,700 feet below the ridge line of Gold Ridge. The Alaska State Troopers, along with Juneau Mountain Rescue, recovered her body with the assistance of Temsco Helicopters and the National Guard.
Norwegian Cruise Line reported Buenafe missing to local state troopers when she did not return to the ship by the scheduled time. The cruise line’s spokesperson stated that an active search was underway, with support provided to local authorities and the guest’s family during the distressing situation.
Before Buenafe’s body was discovered, search efforts encompassed a ground search by Juneau Mountain Rescue, the use of thermal drones, and aerial searches conducted by AWT Helo 5 and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter. Despite the extensive search and rescue operation involving professional volunteers and agencies, Buenafe remained unlocated until the helicopter crew found her body.
Buenafe, who worked as a physician at UK HealthCare in Lexington, Ky., had over 20 years of medical practice experience. She received her degree from Case Western Reserve University and completed her residency at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. The tragic incident has left the local community and her loved ones grieving the loss of a respected healthcare professional.
The Alaska State Troopers and Norwegian Cruise Line have yet to provide further comment on the heartbreaking incident. The recovery of Buenafe’s body brings closure to a challenging search and rescue mission that mobilized various resources and volunteers in the rugged Alaskan wilderness.
As details emerge about the circumstances surrounding Buenafe’s disappearance and subsequent discovery, the community mourns the loss of an adventurous spirit whose passion for hiking led to a fateful outcome. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of outdoor activities, even in picturesque locales like the Alaskan mountains.