Alaska Department Of Public Safety,State Troopers Public Information Office

Dispatch Text:

On October 8, 2026, at 5:05 pm, Alaska Wildlife Troopers received a report that Charles Kolb, age 72, of Eagle River, had fallen overboard from a boat in the Talkeetna River.  Another person in the boat was able to get Kolb to a nearby sand bar where he performed life saving measures for approximately 40-50 minutes until EMS was able to arrive on scene.  EMS provided life saving measures and transported Kolb back to the Talkeetna boat launch to await a medivac.  Kolb was pronounced deceased at approximately 6:40 pm by a doctor on scene before the medivac arrived. Next of kin has been notified.  Kolb's body was taken to the State Medical Examiner's Office for investigation.