Anchorage man with Crowley ties drowns

An apparent drowning victim in Seward, Alaska, has Crowley ties.

According to KTUU-TV out of Anchorage, Alaska, the body of Patrick Richard, 51, of Anchorage was found floating in the Seward Small Boat Harbor.

Richard's body was recovered Saturday morning and local emergency crews are still searching for his companion.

According to a statement from Seward Police Department Chief Tom Clemons, divers were alerted at about 10:20 a.m. that a man’s body was floating in the harbor. Police are continuing to search for a companion of his, who has not been identified pending notification of next of kin.

“Anchorage resident Patrick Richard was found completely submerged in the water near the boat that he was staying on (for) the night while visiting Seward,” Clemons wrote.

KTUU reports that Richard and the missing companion were visiting Seward but reported overdue for a charter bus back to Anchorage at 9 a.m. Saturday. Richard's body was found by a friend who visited the boat and the friend alerted police.

According to Clemons, dive teams with the Seward Fire Department and Central Emergency Services continue to search for Richard’s companion Monday. He says the operation isn’t considered a recovery mission, because it’s not clear what happened to the companion.

Both cases remain under investigation by SPD, and Clemons says it’s not clear whether foul play, drugs or alcohol were factors in Richard’s death.

Richard was born and raised in Crowley.