Man dies at Hurricane Gulch on Sunday

A 25 year old Anchorage man died at the Hurricane Bridge late Sunday. Multiple rescue teams responded to the call early Sunday evening at the Hurricane Bridge over the Chulitna River on the Parks Highway. According to state troopers, witnesses saw a man fall from the bridge into the gorge.

Talkeetna Fire Chief Ken Farina says about 17 responders were on the scene at the bridge. Tri Valley, Cantwell, Trapper Creek and Talkeetna EMS crews all responded. He says other passers-by with medical and fire experience stopped to assist.

Chief Farina says crews were on the scene for several hours as they worked with high angle rescue. Some held spotlights as others made their way down the treacherous slopes to retrieve the injured man.

Jon Starheim was still alive as rescuers worked to hoist him by way of a Stokes basket up the 290 foot ravine. Farina said the increasingly poor weather conditions…snow and ice…and darkness, didn’t make the job easy. Crews were hopeful as Starheim was raised to the roadway, but his condition worsened suddenly. He died enroute to the hospital as the ambulance crew tried to revive him.

Although extra medical help had been ordered, poor visibility and deteriorating weather conditions didn’t allow the Life Med helicopter to make a safe flight to the area.

Trooper spokeswoman, Megan Peters, says there was nothing suspicious about the accident.